Hope and Sons is yet to begin construction of its new Mosgiel crematorium, but hopes to have it operating this year.
Managing director Michael Hope said it was still working on gaining building consent.
''We are just getting building consent and then we get into the costing and build phase,'' Mr Hope said.
The comments come after Lyndon Hope last year said he hoped the crematorium, in Dukes Rd North, would be operating by this month.
Michael Hope said Lyndon was probably ''a bit ambitious''.
''We won't know [the exact date] until we start the process of building.''
There had been no major delays with the project, but sorting out encumbrances on the property where the crematorium was going to be built had slowed things up.
He could not be certain when construction would begin.
''If we miss ... getting the turf turned before the winter season, it would be delayed until spring,'' he said.
Separate consents from the Dunedin City Council, allowing 24-hour operation of the crematorium, and a discharge consent from Otago Regional Council were granted in April last year.
