The debt-funded work programme, worth $64.44m, will not begin until 2027-28.
The work includes only the transport-related projects from the council’s "high investment" package for climate change mitigation projects.
And Cr Jim O’Malley, who spearheaded their inclusion during deliberations for the council’s nine-year plan, said it would be up to the next crop of elected councillors to add them to an annual plan.
"To some extent, it’s a slightly cynical move in as much as it’s really not affecting this [long-term plan] very much at all, and it’s really setting up for the next council to look at," Cr O’Malley said.
"But if we don’t do it, then I think it will be forgotten in two years’ time."
A large portion of the funding councillors added to the budget from the 2027-28 financial year was related to completing projects including connecting urban cycleways.
Cr O’Malley’s amendment found favour in a 9-6 vote.
Five years ago, when Labour was seeking re-election, the party put out a multibillion-dollar infrastructure fund, he said.
"We got a big fat zero."
He was told at the time, in order to attract the infrastructure funding, projects needed to be listed in the long-term plan.
Now, the government had dropped most subsidies for cycleways, footpaths and public transport, and if those subsidies were to return, the council should be in a position to vie for them, he said.
"I don’t know if fiscal responsibility just means spending less, which I think is sometimes how it’s referred to.
"It’s about where you spend your money.
"A lot of this may not be the highest carbon-zero impacts, but it is finishing off a whole network of transport programmes that need to get finished.
"And when the cycleways are built — they’re built.
"Half the problem is we’ve been piecemealing it through so long it seems like a never-ending project, because we don’t want to fund finishing it off."
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said he was not happy with what he called "quite a chunk of additional expenditure".
"It does signal to the community that debt and rates are no object for the council," Mr Radich said.
"And a lot of people in the community that are struggling with the debt and struggling with the rates ... they will feel ‘unlistened’ to."
The council "had enough work going on" related to reducing carbon emissions already.
Cr Brent Weatherall said there were "some great initiatives" with respect to the council’s carbon-zero work, "but we have to be realistic around our financial ability to save the planet".
"‘Carbon zero’ is all about modelling, reporting and monitoring, and personally, I’m sick of it," he said.
Cr Carmen Houlahan said she knew there would be people in the city who would be "furious with this vote", but she remained unrepentant about her views.
"If you don’t believe in climate change, then go hide in a hole, because it is reality," Cr Houlahan said.
Cr Andrew Whiley said he was getting tired of the tenor of debates about the carbon-zero programme and the "lecturing" around the council table.
"I feel there’s a moment of attack especially around carbon zero — over and over again — and that’s really frustrating."
The council also included $151,000 in next year’s budget for work to enhance sequestration in the city’s waterways and green space.
How they voted
Including funding for $64.44 million of carbon-friendly transport projects from 2027-28.—
For (9): Crs Sophie Barker, David Benson-Pope, Christine Garey, Kevin Gilbert, Carmen Houlahan, Marie Laufiso, Mandy Mayhem, Jim O’Malley, Steve Walker
Against (6): Crs Bill Acklin, Cherry Lucas, Lee Vandervis, Brent Weatherall, Andrew Whiley, Mayor Jules Radich
