The council's policy committee yesterday considered a recommendation to fund the dedicated bridge, estimated to cost between $1 million and $2.5 million, possibly as a World War 1 commemorative project.
The bridge would link the West Harbour cycle route with an extension planned to the inner harbour track.
Cr Michael Deaker said it was far too early for the council to be considering funding such a project and doing it as a commemorative project was questionable, given the region already had about 140 memorials to World War 1, including about 28 in Dunedin.
''We don't give anyone a blank cheque. This is a substantial expensive piece of work,'' Cr Deaker said.
He urged the committee to recommend the project be investigated further and ''forget about the 141st construction to do with the war''.
His motion to change the recommendation was carried by the committee which included all councillors.
Cr Gerry Eckhoff said the bridge and commemoration should be separate projects, as the latter should be region-wide.
Chairman Stephen Woodhead said the results of an investigation should be reported to the council or next committee meeting and included in the annual plan for public consultation.
Cr Bryan Scott said he wanted to see what cyclists, walkers, the Port Chalmers community and the city council thought about the project before it went any further.
Chief executive Peter Bodeker said the council had been approached by the Government about a World War 1 commemorative project and, as a result, the idea of creating a significant valuable city utility such as the bridge came about.
The Government was offering a financial contribution towards any commemorative project.
Regional council transport manager Dr Jane Turnbull said the Government would not fund the bridge, but might contribute about $200,000 to the commemorative aspects of the project, such as information panels.
