Farmers are concerned about a proposal to register Old Dunstan Rd as a historic place, and have pointed out the trail was a farm servicing road before it became a route to the Dunstan goldfields.
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) plans to register part of the road, from Clarks Junction, near Middlemarch, to Galloway Flat, near Alexandra, as a category one historic place.
The proposal has attracted 16 submissions, seven opposing the plan, seven in support and two neutral.
The trust's Otago-Southland manager, Owen Graham, said it was one of the country's premier heritage roads by virtue of its historical importance as a gold route, its association with the early days of Central Otago and because of its 170km length.
The road bisects Rocklands Station, and the station's trustees, together with Federated Farmers, have objected to registering the road, concerned at the impact it might have on farming operations. About 20 properties adjoin the road.
"Rocklands' use of the track pre-dated the use of it as a gold route, " station co-trustee Bill Harrington said. "It was originally put there to enable livestock to be moved around the property and the nature of it is that it's still used for that today as a main access route. We'll shift mobs of 10,000 sheep or 1000 head of cattle along it."
The trust's report placed too much emphasis on the road being used as a gold route, he said.
"It was only used for that for four years of its 150-year existence."
Mr Harrington was also concerned publicity about the "risky" road would lift its profile and attract more motorists, which could endanger users.
Mr Graham said the registration would have no impact on how farmers adjoining the road managed their property.
"The NZHPT is not in the role of telling farmers how to run their properties."
