It appears the Dunedin City Council has avoided a date in court with one of its councillors, for the time being at least.
An announcement on a possible way forward on the State Highway 88 realignment argument, that has left traffic lights at the central city intersection of Frederick St and Anzac Ave mothballed for several years, is expected this week.
The council is seeking an Environment Court ruling on its redesignation of land for the realignment, after affected landowner Doug Hall, now a city councillor, opposed it.
The redesignation was the second done, after the first - which enabled the road works to go ahead - was quashed by the court, which found the council did not correctly consult all affected property owners.
Mediation and negotiations with Cr Hall, including around whether the council would purchase his land, had failed and the matter was to be heard in the Environment Court on May 26, but the court recently notified a change to the schedule.
Council chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose yesterday said all parties had agreed to defer the court hearing, ''pending an announcement''.
Cr Hall said he was bound by a confidentiality agreement and could not comment.
