Speaking after a foggy trip to the site Dr Chadwick said plans to meet regional council chairman Stephen Cairns and Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin on Monday night to discuss issues relating to the land had been thwarted because she was fog-bound in Wellington.
She praised the efforts of all those who had promoted the council's purchase of the 328ha, singling out Save the Otago Peninsula and the Otago Peninsula Community Board.
The purchase, which cost the Dunedin City Council $2.6 million, was "political action at its best".
Dr Chadwick did not make any offers of funding for the project, although she indicated the area was likely to fall within the criteria for the National Community Biodiversity Fund, announced in the budget, which will give $4 million over two years to support restoration projects protecting indigenous biodiversity on public land.
Dr Chadwick said the regional council was "part of the solution" and emphasised that all those involved with conservation needed to work together.
Criteria for the fund is expected to be announced next month.
Regional council deputy chairman Stephen Woodhead said informal discussions had been held with the city council.
The regional council did not see it had any formal function allied with the Harbour Cone proposal which had been described as a park or recreation area.
Asked if people might be critical of that position, given that the council supported the Awatea St Stadium which might be seen in the same light, Cr Woodhead said the comparison was irrelevant.
Issues were considered on a case-by-case basis.
Harbour Cone Steering Group chairman Cr Dave Cull said there was a need for both councils to recognise that protecting the area formed part of their vision.
Cr Cull said it could be good to sit down with the regional council and discuss how it could be involved.
However, it was important that such discussions did not hold up plans for the block.
"I don't want us to be figuring out what to do in 10 years' time. I suspect the public don't want that either."
Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope, speaking from Wellington, agreed the regional council had a role to play and he would be encouraging people to write to councillors asking them to "support an appropriate contribution".
He was also hopeful $1 million over two years could be allocated to the project from the community biodiversity fund.
