The $20 million van Brandenburg bridge at the Dunedin harbourside has got the unanimous backing of the Dunedin City Council.
The plan for a bridge on Rattray St between the Chinese Garden and the Steamer Basin was described as an ''extraordinary opportunity'' that could spark development by the harbourside.
The council included $20 million in its draft 10-year plan for an architecturally designed walking and cycling bridge as part of the city to waterfront connection project.
The initiative comes after Damien van Brandenburg presented his vision for the redevelopment of the Steamer Basin, which included the bridge.
Two other options were explored in the plan, including a basic design for the bridge or upgrades to the Jetty St overbridge costing between $6-10 million.
At the council 10-year plan meeting, Cr David Benson-Pope moved the $20 million option, with the $6 million to $10 million ''lesser bridge'' also put out for community consultation.
Cr Benson-Pope said Mr van Brandenburg's design was ''an extraordinary opportunity''.
Councillors supported the bridge, though some raised concerns about the process by which it had been included in the draft plan.
Cr Chris Staynes said the $20 million option would recognise the world class design that came from Dunedin, and attract the sort of investment required at the harbour.
The council had to follow process, but ''surely we need some vision''.
Mayor Dave Cull said the bridge was ''the only way to go''.
A utilitarian bridge would not be good enough for the wider vision of the harbourside.
