The Oamaru stone sign at the southern entrance on the intersection of State Highway 1 and Weston Rd reflects the history and heritage of the town, with its fluted column emerging from blocks of Oamaru stone and the name "Oamaru" on it.
When the sign was built a decade ago, the Waitaki District Council intended to have a similar one at the northern SH1 entrance, but that did not come to fruition.
Now the council's corporate services committee will have to decide at its meeting on Wednesday whether to spend almost $40,000 at the northern entrance, funding the sign with $15,000 from the Oamaru business rate surplus, $15,000 from the economic development discretionary fund and $10,000 from the Resource Management Act reserves contribution fund.
Corporate services group manager Stephen Halliwell, in a report for the committee meeting, said there was agreement the council would provide a similar sign at the northern entrance.
There were considerable discussions about the site and with landowners about where it should be.
The council had not planned for the project in its annual plan, despite the history and public expectation.
Recently, the Waitaki Tourism Association, along with the Waitaki Development Board, had looked at how to advance the project.
Various locations were investigated, including north of Pukeuri.
The site finally selected was opposite the Oamaru racecourse, Mr Halliwell said.
