A $630,000 project to stabilise Haven St in Moeraki would go ahead, even though there was no guarantee of success, the Waitaki District Council assets committee decided yesterday.
The project may only be the first stage, with a possible second stage costing about $800,000.
The first stage may get a 57% subsidy from the New Zealand Transport Agency of about $359,000.
Roading assets manager Geoff Young said the $630,000 was still subject to final design and tendering.
The council also needed the NZTA to confirm the subsidy, and permission from property owners for drainage to go through their land.
Yesterday, the committee had to decide whether to proceed.
Cr Struan Munro said it "involved a huge amount of money", but over the years councils had sunk a lot of money into trying to maintain the road.
"We need to do something, but have to realise it will help but not resolve the problem," he said.
The road has been troublesome for more than 100 years, portions of it slumping as the land underneath slips down the hill by as much as 220mm a year.
Moeraki's only entrance from State Highway 1 is two lanes of seal, but other sections are shingled, rough narrow portions where there are constantly moving slips.
The council has looked at several options to resolve the problem, including rerouting the access road at a cost of $473,000.
The community rejected that idea and the council did not pursue it.
After extensive investigations, the final solution was the $630,000 stabilisation and drainage project, which was included in this year's budget.
About $300,000 would be spent on drainage and another $300,000 for road realignment and widening.
Mr Young said the work might help but would not solve the problem.
The Waihemo Community Board had mixed views.
Cr Kathy Dennison said a petition from the Moeraki community, signed by about 360 people, wanted the work done.
"If we do nothing . . . we could lose the road completely."
