By next summer Queanbeyan residents could have access to a water play park at the aquatic centre and an upgraded river foreshore after the CBD Stage 2 upgrades were approved on Wednesday night at a general meeting of council.
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The upgrade of Queen Elizabeth Park is set to go ahead in January, and a report will come back to council to investigate how $150,000 could be spent on a play park at the pool.
Councillors approved the multi-million dollar CBD Stage 2 redevelopment after months of debate.
QCC general manager Peter Tegart described the project as having a "checkered history".
In August, the project was put on hold as a block of councillors, which did not include the mayor, voted to investigate whether the funding could be diverted to a cinema project.
Mayor Tim Overall fought back against the move, rescinding the motion with the signatures of three other councillors, ensuring the issue was put back on the table at the next council meeting.
Nearly $1 million had already been spent on studies and the design of Queen Elizabeth Park and works in Monaro Street.
At the time, Cr Overall said he was staggered such a motion to divert funding had come forward.
In Wednesday's meeting, the CBD upgrades were passed without fuss.
Cr Jamie Cregan amended the original motion to include the play park at the pool.
Cr Overall commended the motion to councillors. He said it was "absolutely fundamental we invest in our town".
Council awarded the contract through a tender process to Bost Pty Ltd.
Cr Overall said he expected the work to take 10 months, and start in January.
In the same meeting, council agreed to investigate the upgrade of pedestrian crossing facilities on Crawford Street, Antill Street and Rutledge Street, and prepare a report on the cost of all-weather display boards for select CBD buildings to illustrate the historical significance of Queanbeyan.
