Cr Henk van de Ven has led a charge for the switch which could result in Albury Council forfeiting $15,000 funding from NSW Roads and Maritime Services for the project valued to cost an overall $30,000.

Work was poised to start on constructing the pedestrian refuge in Swift Street recently before some last-minute backlash from businesses in the area concerned about the loss of seven carparks.

Cr van de Ven attended a follow-up public meeting and at Monday night's council meeting he gained necessary support for a change to a zebra crossing.

"The issue around the loss of carparking spaces was concerning," he said.

"There were a few issues that came to light and with one of them a lot of their employees were using carparking spaces outside, leaving their place of work every couple of hours to go and move their cars.

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"But with the proposed redevelopment of the Albury Entertainment Centre and the hope of getting more visitors there, extra carparking spaces in Wilson Street, in a short space of time those warrants to justify a raised pedestrian crossing would be met.

"It is also about the sake of consistency across the CBD and slowing the traffic down in Swift Street."

His personal view was pedestrian refuges were too dangerous.

The funding from RMS was based on a 50-50 split with council.

Engineering director Brad Ferris confirmed the project was meant to be completed by June 30, but extensions could be applied for.

"We can certainly go back to RMS and discuss the possibility of extending the current funding," he said.

"Or we could self-fund once we've finalised the design for this project."

The addition of an extra deck to the Wilson Street public carpark nearby has already been floated as has reducing the time limit for parking on the north side of Swift Street from two hours to one.

Councillors also voted to investigate the possibility of creating more parking spaces outside the LibraryMuseum to offset the loss of any spaces caused by the crossing in Swift Street.

A further report on the issue will be prepared for the local traffic committee and member for Albury Justin Clancy will be asked to intervene with RMS about retaining the funding for the project even with the change of scope.

Cr van de Ven said he still wanted the change made even if it meant losing the state government funding from RMS.