Almost a block of Victoria Street buildings would eventually have to go to make way for the park (file photo).

A riverside urban park has got a tick from the majority of Hamilton City councillors - and a budget trim.

Hamilton Mayor Andrew King proposed buying and bowling about a block of buildings to make the park in Victoria Street.

He'd proposed to start by spending $20m in the first five years to extend Victoria on the River, and removing more buildings.

HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL Several councillors disapproved of the spend when the city is facing a big rates rise (file photo).

On Thursday, Councillor Geoff Taylor suggested chopping that to $12m to make a start, and councillors voted 7-5 for that option.

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Before voting, councillors got a presentation on the urban park as part of their long-term plan deliberations.

HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL Restaurants and cafes would be cut into the bank below the park, Mayor Andrew King says (file photo).

Taylor said he immediately saw potential in the mayor's vision and businesses would like the focus area being more central than Ferrybank.

"I see it as an incredible opportunity in essence to move the River Plan ahead."

"I like the vision but I was concerned about the cost - the initial capital cost," he said.

"I preferred to put up a lower figure ... That reflects, for me, a more conservative take on it."

But the prospect of a big spend in the face of a rate rise and petrol tax worried several.

"I love the idea. I think the timing is completely, 100 per cent wrong," Councillor Mark Bunting said.

"We're just about to slam people with a 15-and-a-half per cent rates rise, we're about to slam them with a 10-cent fuel tax, which is going down like a cup of warm... whatever."

Is should go out for consultation though, he said.

"If the public like it, then I like it. If they don't like it, then I don't like it in this case. I'm pretty sure I know which way it's going to go."

Under King's proposal, council would have spent $20m in the first five years of the project.

Another $10m would have been spent removing buildings, and about $13m in building assets would have been written off.

King's vision is a central-city park with riverside views, between Victoria on the River and Embassy Park.

It would also have cafes and restaurants cut into the bank below it on the river side, so as not to interrupt views.

Cr Leo Tooman said ratepayers might go to one of the cafes built into the park and have their eftpos card decline because of a 15.5 per cent rate increase.

Earlier, Cr Angela O'Leary had asked if this replaced the River Plan.

The plan stands until council makes a decision to revoke it, chief executive Richard Briggs said.

The mayor's proposal was described as a river plan extension, he said.

Councillors voted 7-5 to put the plan out for public consultation as part of the long-term plan.

Those against were Crs James Casson, Angela O'Leary, Rob Pascoe, Paula Southgate, and Leo Tooman.