An artist's impression of the redeveloped Victoria on the River site in Hamilton.

It's the city's greatest natural feature and next year, with the completion of a new central city park, the Waikato River will be the focal point for shoppers, workers and visitors to Hamilton.

The river is the lifeblood of the region said Tainui Waka Tourism Incorporated secretariat officer Craig Muntz and Hamilton's Victoria on the River will help take it from a background feature to centre of attention.

"Being an inland city and a major city on the Waikato River, the river is a key point of difference and we need to leverage off that," Muntz said.

EDWARDS WHITE ARCHITECTS Hamilton's Victoria on the River fits nicely with Waikato River tourism ambitions

Work to clear a path for the Victoria on the River Project is well under way and Hamilton City Council has approved a $4.9 million construction budget to get the CBD opening out to the river.

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Stage two of the project, which includes the remainder of current earthworks and improving the public space, will go out to tender in September.

Victoria on the River is expected to be completed next May when it will open to the public and make a difference to tourism aspirations.

Those ambitions are highlighted in a Hamilton and Waikato Tourism plan for the region which included game changers like Maori tourism, the Kingitanga and the Land Wars with the river at the core.

"We really need to focus on what is distinctive about our city to compete," Muntz said.

Council's strategic property manager Nicolas Wells said staff are pushing on with the project.

"We're going full whack on this one and we are hoping it will be opened in May of next year," Wells said.

The public space will be family friendly and have places for people to sit and relax and take in the view.

It will also double as a theatre and performance space and Wells said businesses on the edge of the park will be able to open new shop fronts to the public.

"It's being designed in such a way that it's got maximum flexibility of use," Wells said.

"We're anticipating that adjoining building owners will really want to activate their perimeter with spill-out cafes and hospitality offerings of various sorts."

It's a unique development for the city, he said.

"I can't recall the last time there was a development of this sort in Hamilton."