On Tuesday, the council's committee of the whole considered a recommendation the fountain be dismantled so the possibility of strengthening, restoring and reassembling it could be investigated.
Instead, councillors have recommended the fountain be renovated in situ, with no expectation it again become a working fountain.
The fountain, on the lawn at the entrance to the gardens, was donated by timber merchant John Craig in 1912, had extensive work carried out on it in 1990 after parts wore out and vandals damaged it over the years. However, the fountain leaked, was turned off during the 1990s and has not flowed since then.
Staff believed a $20,000 bequest could be used to dismantle the fountain so the council could determine what was needed to restore it. But some councillors were worried the fountain might be pulled to bits and found to be in such a state it could not be rebuilt.
Hugh Perkins, Peter Garvan and Helen Stead, along with Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, convinced the committee to look at the option of leaving it as it was, but strengthening it.
"If it is not falling down, why not leave it there and enjoy it as it is when we have no idea what it will be replaced with," Cr Garvan said.
Geoff Keeling was concerned spending $20,000 dismantling the fountain would automatically mean money would be spent "at the other end" to restore it.
Mr Familton would hate to see the fountain pulled down and then not rebuilt.
He wanted an option to leave it as it was, even if it was not operational.
However, community services manager Thunes Cloete, who described the fountain as "one of the iconic and well-known structures in the garden", warned it was in such a state with so many cracks it could collapse. Dismantling it would identify what needed to be done to strengthen it and stone masons were "80% sure" it could be fixed.
The council will make a final decision on what action will be taken, but councillors in the meantime will get structural engineering and other reports on the fountain.
