Tuapeka Lawrence Community Company chairman Peter Cummings has laboured over a proposal for the past two years to get a new 250m long cycleway beginning at the entrance to Gabriels Gully Goldfields Park.
The proposed route goes over a small saddle at Goldfields Park and connects to Munros Gully Rd, from where it will connect to the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail.
Mr Cummings has consulted Doc about the possibility getting approval for the path but was required to get approval from Ngai Tahu and Kati Huirapa Runanga before the department could lend its support.
Kati Huirapa Runanga said it had no issue with the proposal.Mr Cummings said his next step was to get approval from Heritage New Zealand, as well as the New Zealand Transport Authority.
"There’s no reason it should be blocked off," Mr Cummings said.
While Doc has indicated its support for the pathway, in a letter to Mr Cummings, Doc Coastal Otago operations manager Annie Wallace said the department could not incur any more cost at the site.
If the community group wanted to proceed, it would need to fully fund the management and maintenance of the track itself.
At the Lawrence Tuapeka Community Board meeting on Wednesday last week, Mr Cummings requested some funding from the Clutha District Council to help with the maintenance.
Mr Cummings was confident the group would be able to raise the funds for the work required to clear the land if necessary.
However, he was not confident it would be able to afford the ongoing maintenance.
He estimated clearing bush, digging work and laying a new culvert pipe would cost about $7000.
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan was surprised Mr Cummings had success with Doc and congratulated him for his work.
