A funding application for a Roxburgh Gorge cycle trail has been endorsed by the Vincent Community Board, but several members warned against it being viewed as a board project.
At its meeting on Monday, the board agreed to back a grant application to the Central Lakes Trust for $130,000 for pre-construction work on the trail.
The proposed 34km trail between Alexandra and Roxburgh has been earmarked for government funds under the New Zealand Cycle Trail Project but has yet to meet the criteria.
A decision on its share of the cycle trail funds will be made by the end of October.
The Roxburgh Gorge track will link with the Clutha Gold trail between Roxburgh and Lawrence and to the Otago Central Rail Trail.
Central Otago District Council business development manager Jonathan Gadd said a trust was being formed to promote the Roxburgh Gorge trail but the trust deed still had to be signed.
It was important to get the funding application in to the Central Lakes Trust.
Delaying the application might delay the project, Mr Gadd saidSeveral board members cautioned against the board taking charge of the project long term.
The board should not be seen as the driver of the project, Mary Flannery said.
"We do not want this seen as a Vincent Community Board project.
Now it's a goer, you form a trust and the trust should run it."
The Government had indicated it would fund $2 million of the $3.3 million construction cost but an additional $230,000 was needed for items which included easements and legal expenses, resource consents and a heritage assessment.
The trail would benefit the community, Martin McPherson said.
The council was the catalyst to get the project up and running and the trust could then take over.
Deputy Central Otago Mayor and board member Tony Lepper said he had sympathy for Mrs Flannery's stance.
"Wearing our old [Earnscleugh-Manuherikia] board hat, we wouldn't have jumped in quite as deep into this ... I'm nervous," he said.
It would be silly to hinder the process by not endorsing the funding application, board member Barrie Wills said.
