Kaitangata and Districts Promotions hopes to get key parties around the table soon to finalise a contract that will see part of a major former coalmine reopened to the public.
Solid Energy, which owns the old open-cast mine, has spent about $1.3 million redeveloping the 53ha site and hopes to create a public recreational area but wants to continue owning the area if good stocks of potential gas and coal reserves are found beneath the ground.
The state-owned company prepared and issued the promotions group with a draft contract in March about future ownership and use of the site, but the process has since stalled.
But promotions group co-ordinator Jean Proctor hopes to convene a meeting of affected parties soon so the contract can be examined in detail and negotiations started, allowing a deal to be settled as soon as possible.
"We're just waiting to get everyone, all the key stakeholders from the community, in the same room at the same time to start talking through it all," she said.
Under the terms of the draft contract, Solid Energy would retain overall ownership of the area but allow parts of it to be opened up for walking and biking tracks and other uses by the public.
Mrs Proctor said the promotions group would act as a "facilitator", bringing together parties which may include the Clutha District Council, community groups, cycling organisations and others.
The revamped site includes native vegetation, geological and historic mining features, native birds, views, a lake, tracks, as well as information panels, rest areas and toilets.
The mine operated from 1945 to 1989, producing 750,000 tonnes of coal.
