The sum also included a contingency for accesses and slipways for the 14 landowners along the route and a budget for dealing with the potentially prickly legal issue of those landowners' riparian access rights.
A 2007 attempt to build the pathway as part of the Southern Pipeline project was abandoned when several landowners appealed.
Affected landowner Brian Scantlebury, of the Tauranga Harbour Protection Society, told councillors that taking another investigative step was a waste of ratepayer money.
While cyclists might want a boardwalk, the existing beach had and would continue to serve generations of locals in other ways.
He said some affected residents were feeling stressed and disempowered by the "seemingly never ending challenges by their representatives, Tauranga City Council".
Cycling advocate Chris Ingram told councillors the pathway would be well used by CBD commuters seeking relief from congestion and parking issues.
It could also be enjoyed by schoolchildren, mobility scooter users, dog walkers, tourists and more.
"The boardwalk would be a people's highway, bringing busyness and buzz - and dollars - to the fine shops, bars, cafes and restaurants downtown."
The Pilot Bay boardwalk was roundly condemned during planning but was now well used, he said, and other New Zealand cities also benefited from walkway investments.
Concerns raised by elected members included the cost estimate being too low and unrealistic, a lack a breakdown of the project cost estimates, the potential for riparian rights issues to derail the process and the pathway visually polluting the natural environment.
All bar Mayor Greg Brownless and Catherine Stewart voted to proceed to consultation with affected landowners, iwi representatives, interest groups and the wider community.
Wharf Street upgrade gets support
Detailed designs for how Wharf St's waterfront end can be turned into a pedestrian-friendly dining attraction will be created in the coming months.
The Tauranga City Council's elected officials gave staff their blessing - and a $190,000 budget - to build on concept designs to complete design work on the revitalisation project.
They heard the estimated $2.9 million construction cost included $1.5 million for the above ground work, including streetlight replacements and new (non-cobbled) paving.
The rest was to be spent on timely renewal of underground infrastructure, including water and wastewater assets that had almost reached the end of their useful lives.
Councillors also discussed the potential for businesses in the area to help pay for operational costs through "licence to occupy" fees.
Construction was forecast to begin in May next year and continue over winter to minimise impacts on businesses.
That was bad timing with all the other CBD road closures, said councillors Catherine Stewart and Bill Grainger, who voted against proceeding.
Carpark plan approved
The asbestos-contaminated council storage sheds will be knocked down to make way for a temporary CBD carpark, the Tauranga City Council decided yesterday.
The buildings at 16-24 Dive Crescent will be demolished at a cost of $252,000 and a temporary carpark with 38 spaces will be built.
Two neighbouring tenanted properties will be demolished in 2021 and plans for the site will be reviewed.
