Otago Peninsula Trust general manager Robyn McDonald said the work was designed to protect the colony, and public access would still still be available - albeit in a limited capacity.
In an effort to reduce penguin deaths, vehicle access to the area at night had been stopped for the past three years, and closed during the day for the past two months. Disability access was still available.
Those wanting to explore Pilots Beach could still walk to the area but this was likely to be limited when the tourism venture began.
It was hoped to start the project in October, but this had now been delayed until October next year, subject to resource consent approval.
The Blue Penguin Pukekura Trust, a joint venture between the Otago Peninsula Trust and the Korako Karetai Trust, planned to run guided tours at dusk to view the penguins as they arrived at the beach.
Trained guides would provide information on the flora and fauna in the area, as well as on cultural aspects. Ticketing, parking and toilet facilities would be provided by the nearby Royal Albatross Centre.
A new entranceway was being built closer to the centre, along with new fences, planting, and predator control work, which was expected to cost "hundreds of thousands of dollars".
The tourism venture attracted seven submissions; four against the proposal, two neutral and one in support of it, with the trust confident issues raised were "nothing we cannot resolve".
"At the end of the day, we are doing this for the protecting of the penguins."
