Plans by the Department of Conservation (Doc) to open a small section of a reserve near Balclutha as a stock thoroughfare for its neighbours seem likely to be approved.
Just one submission, supporting the bypass proposal through the Otanomomo scientific reserve, was received, and a report was now being prepared, Doc public relations spokesman John Gordon said.
The report will go to Otago conservator Jeff Connell, who will ultimately decide if the move should go ahead.
The proposal was publicly notified in February.
Doc was approached by Telford Rural Polytechnic about the possibility of opening up a small corridor of land on its boundary with Telford-owned farmland.
The two parties have since agreed on the idea. If approved, the bypass would allow Telford stock to pass through the corridor from one part of the property to another.
Conservation Minister Tim Groser has said he wants to grant a 30-year concession for a right of way through the reserve. This would allow Telford to build a farm-access track on the outer edge of the reserve, which borders the Owaka Highway.
The proposed lane would be about 75m long and 6m wide and screened from the highway by native plants.
