A funding application is likely to be lodged early in the financial year after the Andrews government reveals its budget.

If there’s a positive response work could start by June next year, city councillors heard this week from chief executive Bruce Anson.

The council has already set aside $1m for the project, which will be the street’s biggest transformation in generations with wider footpaths, narrower road lanes and more street seating as features.

Mayor Michael Neoh touched base with Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford in January seeking a long-term commitment for all the state’s major regional cities to renew their CBDs rather than in “dribs and drabs”.

This week councillors debated timing of the rollout, footpath height and replacement of the plane trees.

Allocating priority to sections of the street triggered long debate with three councillors disputing the timetable recommended by council officers.

There was general agreement that the Koroit to Lava streets portion should be done first because it had general consensus from the community, landlords and traders.

The officers listed Koroit to Timor streets (the so-called café end) to be the second section followed by Lava Street to Raglan Parade and then into Koroit Street from Liebig to Kepler streets, with the balance of the CBD later.

Their proposed timing would have the upgrade from Raglan Parade to the Civic Green completed in six years.

However, councillors Peter Hulin, Brian Kelson and Peter Sycopoulis said they understood from earlier discussions the Raglan Parade section would be done before the Timor Street block.

They said Raglan Parade entry should be a priority.

“Doing blocks one and two first is like dangling the carrot for those passing on the highway, which has the greatest exposure,” Cr Sycopoulis said.

However, other councillors said they were happy with the officers’ recommendations.

“I’m not sure if blocking off the highway end early is a good idea,” Cr Kylie Gaston said. “It’s a case of eating the elephant bite by bite.”

Cr Rob Askew said he understood it was in the original schedule to do the Timor Street end before the parade section and Cr Jacinta Ermacora said funding potential should not be risked by changing the list.

With Cr Neoh out of the room after declaring a conflicting interest in the issue Cr Ermacora sat as temporary chairwoman of the meeting.

She used her casting vote to break a three-all voting deadlock and implement the officer’s timing schedule for the proposed works.