It will be at least two months before construction can begin on the Southland District Council's proposed $11 million Around the Mountains Cycle Trail.
Submissions were heard in Invercargill for and against the trail by commissioner Denis Nugent at the beginning of the month and he has since requested extra information from the council.
Mr Nugent wanted more information on the construction of the trail, the economic benefits and the hydrological effects the trail would have on land up to the Ashton Flats area near the upper Oreti River.
Once the council has submitted this, submitters have another 15-day appeal period and the council a further 15 days for a right of reply.
After the hearing is closed, the commissioner will have 15 working days to make his final decision on the trail's future.
Southland District Council planner Roy Hammond said the decision would be made nearer to July.
The proposal attracted 205 submissions - 109 in opposition, 65 in support, 26 supporting in principle and five neutral (including Environment Southland).
The council estimated that, by year five, the trail would attract over 12,000 cyclists a year, most of whom would use the track for more than one day at a time.
