A joint company between the Waitaki and Mackenzie district councils will be set up to run the Ocean 2 Alps cycle trail, overseen by a joint committee between the two local authorities through which the 312km route passes.
At an extraordinary meeting yesterday, the Waitaki District Council approved the way in which the $3.25 million cycle trail will be managed, operated, maintained and marketed.
The Mackenzie council has already approved the structure.
The cycle trail, which proponents say could become one of the world's 10 best, was given government funding of $2.75 million last year.
Construction has started but the final route, particularly through the Waitaki district, still has to be finalised in discussions and legal easements with private property owners.
The joint committee will liaise between the councils over development of the trail and establishing the company to run it, and will have stakeholder representatives, including from private landowners and organisations such as Meridian Energy Ltd and the Department of Conservation.
The council-controlled company will be set up through a special consultative procedure.
Public submissions will open tomorrow, close on May 1 and be heard on May 19.
Decisions will be made on May 31.
The committee will help oversee that process, and appoint the company's directors.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton said the company would ensure ownership of the trail remained with the community and costs would not fall on ratepayers.
The council appointed Ahuriri councillor Craig Dawson to the committee.
