Members of the Alexandra Lions club discussed their proposal with the Vincent Community Board yesterday to seek support after about five years of trying to get their plans off the ground.
Lions club secretary Dave Ramsay said the idea was about "making the [Otago Central] Rail Trail pay for Alexandra" by providing a place where information could be displayed that would hopefully get people to stop and then make their way into Alexandra.
Lions club member and main driver of the plans Brian Croot, of Clyde, said with the Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trail coming along as well, there was the chance for Alexandra "to be the hub of the cycle trails".
"We could have the station there and include railway memorabilia and history of the railway line and information about what's in Alexandra ... lots of people bike down the line and don't know they have been through Alexandra."
He said they had plans of the original station, built in 1907 and would replicate that, with funding from the likes of the Central Lakes Trust.
It would be built on the same site as the original one - near where the rail trail intersects with Tarbert St.
Community Board chairwoman Clair Higginson said the plans prompted "robust discussion" at the meeting but a range of issues arose, including what exactly it will be, and how much it will cost.
She said it was "a great vision" and the board supported the idea in principle "but the level of uncertainty was too high".
Department of Conservation Central Otago area manager Mike Tubbs said the department, which along with the trail's trust maintains the rail trail, had also given conditional support but its concern was around the ongoing maintenance and ownership of the building.
A working party will be formed with the interested parties to work through those issues.
"There are a few hurdles to get over yet but we're hopeful it will go ahead because it's a worthwhile project," Mr Croot said.
The railway line through Alexandra closed in 1990 and the station was demolished in 1992.
