A 15KM loop cycle trail at Lawrence could be completed by next summer if the Department of Conservation approves the opening of a track through historic Goldfields Park.
Tuapeka Lawrence Community Company chairman Peter Cummings said the group was pushing for the trail that would begin and end at the entrance to Gabriels Gully and link to 6km of the Clutha Gold Trail cycle trail.
Some bush would need to be cleared and some digger work would be required in the park to complete the proposed loop, but Mr Cummings said he was optimistic Doc would approve the work required for the trail.
''I don't think it's a big ask,'' he said.
''It's the people's land and they want the people to use it.''
He said in his role with the Clutha Gold Trail Charitable Trust he had sought and received support from Doc in the construction of the trail which links Lawrence to Lake Roxburgh Village and opened in October 2013.
Doc conservation service manager David Agnew said work had begun to investigate the merits of the proposal but he could not offer a timeline for when that work would be completed.
''Looking at any proposal on public land, we need to work through the pros and cons, especially at a site like Gabriels Gully that has historic value, as well,'' he said.
Dale Taipeti, of the Lawrence Information Centre, said hundreds of cyclists, both international visitors and New Zealanders, had used the Clutha Gold Trail this year alone.
Mr Cummings said creating more trails in the Lawrence area had long been a goal of the Tuapeka Lawrence Community Company.
''The company knows there needs to be more circular tracks from Lawrence,'' he said.
''Now it's time to push this to try to get it there next year.''
Keen cyclists already complete a circuit similar to the proposed loop trail, but the climb up Blue Spur Rd was very steep and would deter most riders, Mr Cummings said.
The proposed detour, over the low saddle at Goldfields Park, would also encourage riders to take in the history of the area.
Work to complete a roughly 55km cycle trail from Lawrence to Waihola was given a boost on Wednesday, when the Lawrence Tuapeka Community Board contributed $5000 to a feasibility study .
Clutha Development executive officer Linda Moore said ''a fair bit'' of preliminary work had been done and the study had now reached its $50,000 funding goal.
She said invitations had gone out yesterday for community meetings to advise landowners who could be affected by the proposed trail of the feasibility study and consultation work.
