The future of the proposed walkway between Alexandra and Roxburgh will be decided by ratepayers when they make submissions on the long-term council community plan next year.
A sum of $30,0000 shared equally by the Vincent and Roxburgh community boards will go into the estimates for next year.
The Vincent Community Board discussed the options for taking the track to the next stage at its meeting in Alexandra yesterday.
Report author Matt Sole said it would be up to the boards to decide how it was managed and what happened next.
Board member Barrie Wills questioned the need to make the track 2.5m wide as cutting off half a metre would make the track much cheaper to build.
Mr Sole explained because there were steep gradients and some drop-offs to the side, the average trail rider would not feel safe unless there was a good width to ride or walk on and it also allowed for passing.
The type of people who would be using the track would be older people and families.
"If you want to get economic gain out of the track, you need to cater for outsiders. Otherwise, you will just have locals who use it. Economic benefit needs the widest market," he said.
Cr Tony Lepper was keen to ensure the track competed alongside the proposed upgrade of Molyneux Park.
"It [the track] will be in direct competition with the Molyneux Park. That's [the park] going to cost us $10 million and the track is going to cost $3 million. It needs to be discussed alongside it," he said.
The board voted to include its $15,000 share in the long-term plan for public submission.
