The Drive New Zealand Classic Driving Tour has received the green light from the Wanaka Community Board for the exclusive use of the Crown Range Rd for three hours on October 18.
The board yesterday decided the road through the Cardrona Valley could be closed for the rally of about 50 vehicles, even though it is not being described as a competitive race.
Board members Ken Copland and Jude Battson did not agree with the majority.
"It is just a drive along. To my mind it doesn't warrant closure. I could understand if it was the Rally New Zealand and they were going to take up all the road," Mr Copland said.
He felt although the organisers would make attempts to let people know about the closure, there would still be people who did not know about it and would try to get to Queenstown to catch a flight.
The road is one of two routes connecting Wanaka and Queenstown and is regarded as a significant route requiring the council to address community concerns before approving any closure.
Board chairman Lyal Cocks acknowledged that was also his concern initially, but he had backed off a bit now.
Lakes Environmental technical support officer Vanessa Rees-Francis agreed there was a chance people would not find out about the closure.
However, an advertisement for public submissions had drawn a zero response, while she understood concerns raised by the Cardrona Hotel had been resolved directly with the tour organisers.
Given no-one had contacted her, she felt she could not recommend anything other than approval.
"It is not as extreme as what [the makers of] Hard Drive [a film] were asking for. I think they wanted closure for two or three days," Ms Rees-Francis said.
The board decided the Crown Range Rd would be closed from Eastburn Rd to Cardrona Valley Rd, 0.8km south of the Cardrona Hotel on Sunday, October 18, from 1.30pm-4.30pm.
The utilities committee has already recommended closure of both Coronet Peak Rd and the Crown Range Rd for the rally.
The road closure does not include the zig-zag.
