The decision to proceed with the plan came after prolonged - and at times heated - debate at yesterday's council community development committee meeting.
Councillors voted to commit to the 14-point Logan Park development plan, but with most of the items deferred to be reconsidered during next year's long-term plan hearings.
That meant total capital costs were reduced still further, from $10.4 million to $5.6 million, with the council's share dropping to $4 million.
The spending cuts were achieved by committing to parts of the project already under way - including work on the southern end of the former art gallery building - but deferring most other aspects of the project.
That included removing a proposed $1.4 million multipurpose artificial turf beside the former art gallery building from the list of work to proceed.
It would instead join plans for a $1.3 million football-only artificial turf on the shelf, until both could be reconsidered next year, councillors decided.
However, plans to convert the former art gallery building at Logan Park to a hub for Dunedin sports organisations survived the cull, after a plea to move quickly from Sport Otago chief executive John Brimble during yesterday's public forum.
Councillors voted to proceed with the building's refurbishment for use by Sport Otago and the Otago Polytechnic Institute of Sport and Adventure, subject to further information about costs expected from staff later this year.
If approved, the upgrade would provide a "sports house" for sports organisations but add $2.5 million to the redevelopment's total cost, of which the council would pay an extra $1.9 million.
However, it was expected the council's share would eventually be offset by rentals by the organisations that would use it, and plans to defer upgrades of three sports fields - saving $900,000 - would also be considered next year, councillors heard.
The details won applause from Cr Fliss Butcher and praise from other councillors, while Mayor Dave Cull was happy the plan identified further savings while retaining the council's vision for Logan Park.
However, Cr Lee Vandervis voted against the move after arguing the council still was not doing enough to save money.
Dunedin already had a covered stadium, "and now we are adding a sports house as well", he said.
"The fact we can't afford any of it doesn't seem to have sunk in yet."
His protests also forced a brief adjournment at yesterday's meeting, after his objections over the way the meeting was being run by chairman Cr Bill Acklin forced staff to consult council standing orders.
The disagreement came to nothing after Cr Vandervis was allowed to put forward a revised plan, but failed to attract support for it from a single councillor.
Speaking afterwards, Cr Acklin said further information expected later this year could yet lead to extra spending being confirmed later this year to refurbish the former art gallery building.
More information was also expected on the deferred multipurpose artificial turf and the $900,000 saving available by not upgrading Bathgate, Hancock and Opoho parks, ahead of next year's long-term plan hearings, he said.
