A workable route could be established and some of the details did not need to be settled for years, Taieri Trails Trust chairman Colin Brown said.
The project has run into some headwinds in recent months, including from a few landowners wary of reduced privacy.
A community meeting involving landowners at the foot of the Maungatua Range was held last week after they had become concerned about the proposed route.
Mr Brown said he understood people who attended the meeting would be comfortable with the concept of having the trail run alongside Huntly Rd and this adjustment seemed to be feasible.
He reiterated earlier statements about project priorities, noting the overall objective was to get cyclists safely from the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail to Dunedin.
Developing a trail between Mosgiel and Outram was the first priority and getting cyclists safely from Waihola on to the Taieri Plain was next.
The middle stretch — where there had been some contention — would be last.
He wanted the best trail possible, but "whatever we do, there will be compromises".
Mr Brown noted Dunedin was largely missing out on the benefits neighbouring areas had received from having appealing off-road trails.
It is intended the Taieri trail will link up with the proposed trail between Dunedin and Mosgiel that is to feature two disused Victorian-era railway tunnels.
One affected party broadly supportive of the proposed Taieri trail is the Otago Regional Council, which manages flood protection with assets such as stopbanks. Staff had taken an enabling approach to providing feedback, council operations general manager Gavin Palmer said.
He confirmed a series of technical challenges would need to be faced.
"These include ensuring that the trail and associated assets are properly designed, constructed, maintained and renewed, that the structural integrity of floodbanks, pump stations and spillways is not affected, and that safety of those using the cycleway is managed during floods," Dr Palmer said.
Most floodbanks were grazed by stock of neighbouring landowners under grazing licences issued by the council, he said.
This reduced the maintenance costs of flood protection schemes, he said.
Such licences would need to be varied or revoked.
Dr Palmer said a technical assessment document had been provided to the trails trust.
