Coastal Beach Rd, south of Oamaru, "is not just a road, but an experience", Oamaru resident Graeme Clark told the Waitaki District Council yesterday.
Mr Clark was putting a case to retain the road, from Oamaru to Thousand Acre Rd, and reinstate a 1.2km section temporarily closed because of coastal erosion.
The council is considering the future of the erosion-prone road.
The coastal road was "a gem", as well as an important link to Kakanui, he said.
Some people said one of the best things about living in Kakanui, a coastal settlement south of Oamaru, was the Beach Rd drive to Oamaru - "a chance to reflect".
"The road is a vital tourist route, increasingly used by coaches and caravans.
It has important fossil and archaeological sites along the way.
"There are people making a living out of this asset, with backpacker accommodation and a cafe-restaurant," Mr Clark said.
He urged the council to explore all avenues of assistance and subsidies to retain the coastal drive.
"Transit New Zealand and central government must be convinced that this is a vital component for the local economy and general wellbeing of the district," Mr Clark said.
Closing Beach Rd was an easy option, but the council needed to acquire the land necessary to move it away from the coast then fix the problem.
