The August deadline set last year has now been stretched out to October.
Cycleway project manager and Westland District Council district assets group manger David Inwood said the five projects the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) had identified last year to action by mid-August had to be reviewed due to "council resourcing" and "unrealistic deadlines".
In his latest monthly report to the council, Mr Inwood said a realistic deadline now was mid-October.
A number of new bridges on the Kaniere Tramway and Mahinapua sections had yet to be tendered, and a safety audit was still awaited from the New Zealand Transport Agency for the State highway section of the Ruatapu link.
"Neither the licence to occupy nor physical work can be actioned until the outcome of the safety audit has been determined by NZTA."
The report, to be tabled at the monthly council meeting tomorrow, says two bridges will be tendered on the Mahinapua section, earmarked for completion in late September.
"This is a complex trail construction and has been split into four zones. Zone four is the most complex at the southern leg as there is no formal road access to the site. Two bridges are also to be tendered separately for this item," Mr Inwood said.
The construction of two bridges was also outstanding on the Hokitika-Kaniere Tram route.
"This has not yet been tendered due to competing priorities and lack of resource to action."
Other sections to be completed before the Greymouth-Ross trail can be declared officially open and identified in the project completion plan last year, are Taramakau and Golf Links Road.
Mr Inwoood said the Golf Links Road link from the Hokitika Bridge had been completed, and a request had been made to remove the Taramakau section from the council's authority while road construction was under way for the new Taramakau Bridge.
"This section of cycle trail has now been completed in the form of temporary and permanent portions. There has been recent modifications of trail alignment near the Taramakau Bridge by Fulton Hogan to accommodate new roading infrastructure associated with the Taramakau Bridge project.
"A licence to occupy has been granted by NZTA. Council has no control over these trail changes, which reflect and impact on its agreement with NZTA."
Meanwhile, the projected deficit at the completion of the trail has been reduced from $471,000 to between $280,000 and $300,000, the report says.
MBIE will not release final funds of $479,500 until the cycle trail is complete and signed off as one of the Government's 'Nga Haerenga Great Rides'.
- By Janna Sherman of the Hokitika Guardian
