The future of the Clyde Railway Station is likely to involve community and commercial activities operating side by side.
A mixture of the two purposes will create an income stream, making use of the building sustainable, and retention of public access will make sure it is appreciated and valued.
These, and other parameters defining future use of the 107-year-old station, are outlined in a report to be presented to the Vincent Community Board during its meeting next Monday.
Those parameters included ensuring any activities were ''sympathetic to the existing site'', while they did not ''detract from the historic fabric of the building'', and strengthened ties between the Otago Central Rail Trail and Clyde township.
Others outlined setting an area of the building aside for historic items, and making the station platform available for any tenant's purposes, but free for community purposes when required.
Creating income was important because the Central Otago District Council 2012-22 long-term plan did not budget for maintenance, the report noted.
Council property and facilities officer Tara Bates said income from a tenant would pay for repairs and general maintenance.
Inquiries from interested businesses had already been received.
However, registrations of interest would gauge interest from the community and prospective tenants when advertised in August.
Ms Bates could not comment on what sort of commercial activity would be suitable for the premises.
Any commercial activity in the station would be subject to requirements under the Reserves Act and Resource Management Act.
Public notification of possible commercial leases would occur in November and December, with tenancy negotiations set to follow in early 2015.
It was not known when a tenant would be able to occupy the building.
That would depend on work required to make the building suitable for business, Ms Bates said.
Recently, the council accepted registrations of interest to carry out repairs worth $90,000, on the building.
During that period, four registrations were received by the council.
''They are just being assessed at the moment, based on the criteria in the registration of interest information,'' Ms Bates said.
Two or three of those who submitted would then be invited to take part in a fixed price tender process, she said.
Once selected, work to make the building watertight would begin in September.
Funding for the repair work came from the Central Lakes Trust, the Lotteries Commission, Promote Dunstan, and fundraising by the Clyde Railway Station Steering Committee.
