The sign, which threatens trespassers with $10,000 fines, appeared on an access road leading from Leith Valley Rd to a Dunedin City Council-maintained water supply.
The access road crosses the southwest corner of land owned by Rimu Downs Ltd.
Rimu Downs sole director Alan Winsloe, who was unable to be contacted before a story ran about the sign, contacted the Otago Daily Times from Australia yesterday morning to say he did not put the sign up, and did not know who did.
"I don’t have a clue who put the sign up ... It’s none of their business and if another sign goes up we’ll rip it down again."
He was happy for people to use the route through his property, which was a link between Swampy Ridge track and Morrisons Burn track through to the start of the climb up Mt Cargill.
He had asked a neighbour to take the sign down immediately.
Leith Harrier and Athletic Club president Dr Chris Sole said the news that runners could freely use the track was like an early Christmas present.
"We have already more than 160 people that have entered the Three Peaks ... so this will be a huge relief and we are excited that our race can carry on as before."
