A proposed cycleway between Cromwell and Bannockburn will not be built this year.
At a Cromwell Community Board meeting this week it was decided not to add the project on to a pipeline upgrade.
The board will instead recommend to the Central Otago District Council that it consider the cycleway’s creation in its 2017-18 annual plan.
Construction is under way on a pipeline between Cromwell and Bannockburn as part of the Cromwell Wastewater Treatment upgrade.
Community board chairman Neil Gillespie said when the pipeline was first proposed the board brought up the idea of constructing a cycleway on top of it at the same time.
In a report to the board, the cost was estimated at $85,000 for a cycleway on the northern side of Bannockburn Rd which would be 1m from the road in places.
Cost estimates to delay the construction and make a gravel track on the other side of the road were $59,000.
"There is no economy of scale by doing it at the same time. And building on that side of the road with the pipeline probably isn’t the best place in terms of safety," Mr Gillespie said.
The project will be referred to the council as part of the long-term plan process when more details of the track will be discussed.
Mr Gillespie said an existing worn track beside the road could already be used for cycling.
"But that doesn’t suit everybody. We should work through the process and see what the community feedback says."
The advantage of a track would be getting people off Bannockburn Rd, he said.
"Especially kids. It’s a 100kmh road and has bad visibility."
