A stoush between a Waihemo landowner and Downer has caused the Waitaki District Council to hold back routine gravelling on rural roads in the area and rethink its gravel supply strategy.

A quarry on private land, which was managed by Downer, had been used by the council's roading maintenance contractor, SouthRoads.

But Council roading manager Michael Voss says because of the dispute, the owner had locked the contractor out of the quarry until the matter was resolved.