The indication came from Mayor Dave Cull following a submission by Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust spokesman Neville Jemmett at yesterday's council 10-year plan hearing.
Mr Jemmett told the hearing the trust wanted ''public acknowledgement'' from the council that High St could be used as a cable car route, if the project came to fruition, to help with its wider fundraising efforts.
He also wanted the council to consider allowing heritage transport operators to seek financial support from the city's heritage fund.
Work had already begun on a $70,000 building in Mornington to house and display leased cable cars, but the trust eventually planned to replace it with a larger structure costing up to $5million.
The next step would be to purchase tracks to run cable cars down High St, but there would be no point progressing beyond the first stage if High St could not be used, he said.
But that could be just the start, as the trust was also open to the idea of expanding the network to include cable cars running to other destinations, as well as trams along Princes and George Sts, he said.
Responding to a question from deputy mayor Chris Staynes, Mr Jemmett said the trust had already approached Regional Development Minister Shane Jones' office about the project, although it was still early days on that front.
Cr David Benson-Pope also encouraged Mr Jemmett to apply to the heritage fund, saying he could see no barrier to that.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the idea of a designation over High St would be considered, and its implications for the wider public transport network discussed with the Otago Regional Council.
