The road, between Millbrook Resort and the Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Rd, has been used recently as a 1200m shortcut by residents of Orchard Hill Dr and for people working at Millbrook.
However, one resident of Butel Rd, Barry Bain, now wants the road to be closed to traffic, as per a council resolution passed in the early 1990s, stopping the unformed section of the road.
A locked gate at the end of the unformed section was removed by an unknown party about a year ago.
The matter came before the Queenstown Lakes District Council infrastructure service committee yesterday .
Speaking in the meeting's public forum, a property owner, who did not wish to be named, voiced concerns that the family's property would be left cut off by the closure of the road.
"Our legal access is on the road and if it were closed, we would not have any legal access," he said. "It seems to be a waste of time, resources and money to have it closed, as it can't be closed."
His sentiments were echoed by another resident, who wanted the road to stay open and maintained, and spoke briefly in a submission of several Millbrook residents who were of the same mind.
This leaves the committee faced with three options: do nothing and leave the road with no legal restrictions; place vehicle access restrictions on the road; or stop road access altogether.
In his report to the committee, QLDC transport manager Denis Mander raised concerns increasing traffic on the road, which would mean greater maintenance costs under the first option. The council has no plans to upgrade the road.
He said residents were "likely to be opposed" to stopping the road and would provide legal challenges for the property owner with sole legal access from Butel Rd via Orchard Hill Dr.
The committee resolved to consult on the road's future and to report back to the November meeting.
