When no media release eventuated, Mr Scanlon said he'd been advised it wouldn't be made until the following week.
He confirmed council had recently paid the $10,000 seed funding to Top of the South.
Mr Halligan said the TranzGhostal would run as a "demonstration event" in its first year (2016) and then later as a full-scale event.
"Celebrating the emergence of The Old Ghost Road and coupling that with the strong growth and interest in off-road running is a wonderful opportunity that we expect will bring significant benefits to the northern West Coast."
The endurance run would be 85km long, making it one of the longer off-road running events in New Zealand, he said. It would traverse the "majestic terrain" of The Old Ghost Road, which stretched from Lyell in the south to Seddonville in the north and varied between 40m and 1300m above sea level.
Staging the first year as a demonstration event would encourage a smaller number of market leaders who relished a physical challenge to participate, he said.
"We are still working through considerable detail and approvals but are determined to make this a must-do event on the ultra-distance calendar with fresh new concepts.
"We propose to feel our way through this in year one, much the same way as the successful Ghost Road Enduro did with their inaugural mountain bike event on The Old Ghost Road earlier this year," he said.
Buller Mayor Garry Howard said he looked forward to the TranzGhostal becoming a reality.
The way Top of the South was organising it meant it would become a "catalyst event", he said.
"Word of mouth would increase and this event would certainly grow."
Because it would be held in March, after the Buller Gorge Marathon, it would extend the summer visitor season, he said.
"We just want to keep on spreading our visitor season, and this is helping do that."
Having an initial trial event next year meant Mr Halligan could refine the event and grow it thereafter, he said.
Initially, a multi-sports event was talked about, however, the principal feature needed for Buller District Council funding was that it was a new event, he said.
He acknowledged that participation in the TranzGhostal would be limited due to its toughness, but said it had the potential to become an internationally recognised event, which would bring in the numbers.
Top of the South was currently working through other plans to get more people involved, he said.
Completing the event as part of a relay team was a possibility, he said.
"They're very aware of what they're starting and I've got every confidence that The Old Ghost Road Team and Top of the South Events will give this a real good go."
The fact that the event was supposed to have premiered this year wasn't a problem for council, he said. To get the event to a point where it could have longevity, a number of different groups and their schedules had to come together, which took time.
"They've done some serious homework over a period of time to get this where they want it," he said.
Mokihinui Lyell Back Country Trust chairman Phil Rossiter said the trust was looking forward to working with Top of the South Events to get the event off the ground.
"The Old Ghost Road will deliver one heck of a personal challenge and journey and we are very buoyant about the potential of this event and its likely appeal to the trail running market."
The trust supported Top of The South and was working with other organisations to make the TranzGhostal an enduring annual event for the Buller District, he said. He hoped the event would not only attract people from New Zealand, but from all over the world.
The TranzGhostal will premiere in March next year. Pre-registrations can be made at www.oldghostroad.org.nz/experience-the-trail/events.
