The Waitaki District Council is still grappling with how to dredge the Oamaru Harbour entrance.
It has been trying to resolve the issue for more than 18 months, but has not yet come up with a solution despite having budgeted $100,000 for the work.
Various methods have been trialled, including using a digger with a specially imported long-reach arm and a suction pump on a pontoon, because bringing a dredge to Oamaru would be too expensive.
The council's assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the latest method being investigated was using a digger with a cab raised 2m off the ground to track out through shallows and reach out into the channel with a long arm.
The high cab would mean the digger could work in deeper water and rougher seas.
While not issuing a water-tight promise, Mr Jorgensen hoped a decision could be made soon.
Councillors have frequently asked when the work would be done, Cr Jim Hopkins saying it was "a significant matter", but there had been problems.
"We've racked our brains over every possible means and methods [to dredge the harbour]," he said.
