The dairy farmers, the fishermen, the mountain bikers and the local body politicians were unanimous, at a Wanaka Community Board meeting yesterday, in their enthusiasm for a deal changing the location of public roads within land owned by the big Devon Dairies Ltd operation at Hawea Flat.
Devon Dairies is owned by Jim and Jenny Cooper and covers 2800ha between the Hawea and Clutha River corridors.
Unformed ''paper roads'' through the property have presented issues for the farming operation, and there have also been concerns about the security of public access.
Negotiations to resolve the issues began in 2012 and involved the company, the Clutha Fisheries Trust and the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust, and were led by Queenstown Lakes District Council transport manager Denis Mander.
Mr Mander presented a report to the community board yesterday and recommended it approve in principle an agreement to stop some roads and create others.
Deputy Mayor Lyal Cocks moved Mr Mander's recommendation be adopted.
There was discussion over what process the council should use to formalise the changes, Mr Mander suggesting the Public Works Act rather than the Local Government Act, because it was less time consuming.
Using the Public Works Act would mean public consultation would not be required, although Mr Mander pointed out people could still have their say during public forums before council meetings.
In his report, Mr Mander said Upper Clutha residents and visitors were a group ''affected by or interested in'' the proposal but ''we do not believe that formal consultation over the proposal is required''.
The matter was considered to have ''medium'' community interest under the council's ''significance and engagement'' policy.
Upper Clutha Environmental Society president Julian Haworth, approached by the Otago Daily Times after the meeting for comment, said he was always concerned when deals were done between groups ''under the radar''.
Mr Haworth said the tracks trust was focused on the needs of its members ''but there could be wider concerns''.
''I think there should be more light shone on these deals. Maybe they should consult a few more people.''
The society was not consulted.
The lawyer acting for Devon Dairies, Graeme Todd, said the plan had been developed over five years and as well as changes to roads, the owners were giving up some land for conservation purposes and allowing two easements for a sewerage pipe connecting the Hawea area with the council's treatment plant near Wanaka Airport.
Fish and Game Otago was one of the groups that applauded the proposal, its representative at the meeting John Barlow describing it as ''fantastic''.
He considered replacing public roads that were stopped with new public roads made public access more secure than if they were replaced by easements.
