The controversial Memorial Park to Strand walkway has won its way into the list of potential projects to be funded from an $8 million pool of money for city centre and waterfront upgrades.
Councillor Rick Curach succeeded by a vote of 7-4 to "include the potential walkway in any considerations".
The council has already agreed to spend $30,000 to look at consenting issues for the walkway that was originally designed in 2007. It encountered a lot of opposition at the time from residents living above the walkway who feared it would be used by criminals to gain access to their properties.
Grace Rd and Neighbourhood Residents Association spokesman Phil Green said the walkway concept had a good reception from most of the residents on Grace Rd when it was proposed in 2007 but a few opposed the idea.
"There were some objections and some concerns by the neighbourhood residents as far as encroachment on personal safety and and some aspects of the walkway going right past their back door," Mr Green said.