High tides and storm surges in recent years have damaged the seawall to the point where the Clutha District Council believes a total rebuild is needed, but it has taken months of fighting red tape to get approval.
Residents in the coastal settlement were given an update by the council this month and the subject is expected to be raised at Thursday's district assets committee meeting.
In the newsletter, residents were told a hearing by the Otago Regional Council was held just before Christmas.
"The feedback from the hearing panel was positive and we [the council] are hopeful that our requests for some minor changes to the permit conditions will be approved.
"We are now waiting for the formal decision from the hearing panel," the newsletter said.
Clutha District Council assets manager Jules Witt expects the decision soon but said it would still need to be signed by Conservation Minister Tim Groser, and that would not be until the middle of February at the earliest.
While Mr Witt expected it would be a few more weeks beforethe necessary coastal permits were ready.
He said contract documents had been finished so work could start as soon as possible.
The council hopes to advertise the contract by the end of this month, with tenders closing around mid-February.
"Normally, council would wait for the final consent decision before advertising a tender, as the contract requirements may change depending on the outcome of the permit process.
"In this case, the positive feedback from the hearing panel and agreement from [regional council] staff givesus confidence permit requirements will not change much."
Mr Witt said the council was aiming for an early spring construction start but this depended on all the consents and contracts being finalised and in place, access to suitable rock and the successful tenderer being available to start.
