Following a long series of different iterations, protests, consultations and re-thinks, the Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) project to build a shared pedestrian and cycling path on the city's main boulevard was again before council last night.

In a chamber containing just six of the nine Ballarat councillors, with Crs Amy Johnson, Samantha McIntosh and Daniel Moloney all absent, the plans at one stage looked likely to be the latest to be knocked back - until one late vote ushered them through.

HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW

Council officers had made two recommendations to put to councillors. Firstly, they recommended formal council support for the latest RRV designs, which would put the path on the south side of the Sturt Street median gardens on the stretch of road under RRV control from Pleasant Street to Dawson Street.

Secondly, it recommended echoing those designs for the section of Sturt Street under responsibility of the City of Ballarat, running from Dawson Street to Grenville Street. The recommendation said full detailed designs on that section would come back to council for consideration before any work went to tender.

There were five separate members of public who presented to councillors on the matter. Sharon Upham of Ballarat East raised a series of safety concerns about the shared path, including the risk of pedestrians being hit by cyclists, and the issue of how to monitor cyclists' speed.

Ballarat Heritage Watch member Stuart Kelly called the plans a "reasonable compromise" - noting that he had been a strong opponent of a previous iteration that took the path straight up the middle of the Sturt Street gardens.

However, he expressed particular concern over the appearance of the grass safety buffer proposed as a gap between the path and the road, saying it detracted from the heritage aspect of the area.

Three representations were strongly supportive of the plans, including local cyclist Melissa Pirie, Ben Lever, the convener of the Ballarat Branch of the Public Transport Users Association, and Matt Briody of the Ballarat Bicycle Users Group.

Mr Lever noted that "a lot of ink had been spilled" on the matter, saying the path would form one aspect of a well connected public transport system and could also prove to be a great asset for tourism.

"Cycling is going to be very important in Ballarat over the next few years," he said. "It's important we build that infrastructure."

Mr Briody said that while the latest designs were a compromise, he supported them.

"There has certainly been no shortage of public consultation on this issue now; there may be criticism you can level at the plans, but that surely isn't one of them," he told councillors.

The deputy mayor Cr Belinda Coates spoke emphatically in favour, urging fellow councillors to vote to improve liveability: "I can't say strongly enough that separated cycling infrastructure is a real gift to the city."

Cr Des Hudson joined her in support, while Cr Mark Harris remained unchanged from his previous opposition. "It's going to look appalling," he said.

In a surprise reversal, which made the numbers in favour of the the path seem to hang even more in the balance, Cr Jim Rinaldi said he now opposed the paths despite his earlier support.

Citing recent Mair Street works, where planned bike paths were lost during the later building phase, he said: "I've lost confidence with VicRoads. I can't vote for something that I think is not quite right."

When the mayor Ben Taylor asked for votes, the bike path looked on even shakier ground. Only Crs Hudson's and Coates's hands were initially raised in support until Cr Grant Tillett belatedly lifted his up to join them, allowing the latest designs to live on for another day.

SEPTEMBER 2019: Ballarat councillor Mark Harris labels Sturt Street bike path plan 'vandalism'

AUGUST 2019: Sturt Street bike path on its way

FEBRUARY 2018: Backflip on Sturt Street closures, VicRoads goes back to the drawing board

FEBRUARY 2018: Premier says no to Sturt Street changes, traders rejoice | REACTION

JANUARY 2018: Clearing up the misinformation on Sturt Street paths