Access to the popular Falstone camping area at Lake Benmore has been restored, after farmer Ben Aubrey reached a compromise yesterday with Land Information New Zealand.
Mr Aubrey, said when contacted he had been battling for years over Public Works Act issues and what he believed was the Crown's legal obligation to offer land back to him.
By blocking access across Glencairn Station on Wednesday, he was trying to get Linz to focus on the issue.
Mr Aubrey said he had not closed a road but denied public access to the farm.
He removed the netting blocking access yesterday after hearing Linz representatives had agreed to meet him next Thursday.
Most of the campers who turned up on Wednesday to camp at Falstone were very understanding, as most knew the issues, he said.
A crew building a replica Sea of Galilee fishing village and harbour for the film Kingdom Come was allowed through.
Commissioner of Crown Lands David Gullen said last night Mr Aubrey held the Glencairn lease for what was Otago University endowment land administered under a pastoral lease by the Commissioner of Crown Lands.
Land from the lease area was acquired under the Public Works Act for hydro-electric development and was now held as Crown Land, so an operating easement could be put in place for the Benmore hydro scheme.
No decision would be made on use of the Crown land until the easement was in place.
"Mr Aubrey's solicitor raised Public Works Act matters relating to the hydro scheme about a year ago and Linz has been working on these . . . technically and legally complex matters."
He understood the matters dated back to when the Benmore hydro scheme was being planned and had involved several Government agencies over the years.
All the legal work, such as the legalising of roads, had nearly been completed, which meant the use of the remaining land could be considered.
