About 100 of 141 submissions on the Dunedin City Council’s draft plan supported further funding and assistance for the partially completed trail.
When finished, it will link Dunedin’s central city to Otago’s wider cycle network via historic tunnels.
The Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust’s annual plan submission stopped short of asking for funding, instead requesting support by, among other things, recognising the value of a finished trail.
Trust chairman Brent Irving said the project had strong community and government backing and with 6km to go, completion was "both achievable and overdue".
A link between the regional trail network and Dunedin would provide health, transport, tourism and economic gains, and reap the benefits of past investment, Mr Irving said.
"The trust is not seeking direct capital funding, but rather council leadership and prioritisation to unlock delivery — particularly enabling timely access to the Caversham Tunnel."
The project’s first stage, through the Chain Hills Tunnel, was 20 years in the making and opened late last year.
Many of the 100 submissions were boilerplate — asking the council to restore $22.4 million in project funding removed from last year’s nine-year plan.
One submitter, who gave their name as Sam, said they commuted by bike between Mosgiel and Dunedin and felt "like my life is in danger every time".
They would value a safe bike and foot path between the two centres.
An anonymous submitter put it more bluntly: "Don't be idiots, make it easier for people to get around without using roads".
The project’s first stage received $1.8m of funding from the council. The project also received a $2m injection from the government in 2025 to cover stages 2 and 3 of the project.
Annual plan hearings will be held on Wednesday.
