The final tender for Indigo Council's "largest infrastructure project in its history" will be issued after a $750,000 budget overrun was approved.
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But some Councillors remain unhappy with ratepayers bearing the "impost" for the Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail's added costs - attributed to biodiversity fees.
More than $6 million received from other state and federal grant programs has "freed up funds from forward capital works".
As the rail trail has to be done by November, the additional $750,000 will be spent with "minimal impact on future capital works programs".
Cr Larry Goldsworthy said it would make a difference to the community.
"We need to finish this," he said.
"It's unfortunate we've had the cost overrun by $750,000 - it's primarily due to changes in the biodiversity offsets.
"When this project was initially scoped and funded, it was for a set amount and the introduction of legislation after that has basically been responsible for this excess."
Cr Bernard Gaffney raised the North East Cycling Optimisation project was "the biggest commitment of funds Indigo Shire has had" from the state government.
"(There was) $5.2 million for the Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail, Indigo Shire having to put in $1 million, they said $4 million was for marketing - I believe that money has already been spent by Tourism North East on cycling the high country - and $2.2 million for private partnerships.
"Indigo Shire has doubled its commitment.
"Will that be enough? It was only a couple of meetings ago that we took $300,000 from a federal infrastructure grant and put it to this project.
"It's a major impost."
Cr Gaffney questioned whether the Epic Mountain Bike Track would also overrun its budget.
The proposed route for that project is awaiting Ministerial approval.
Acting chief executive officer Ian Ellett said there could be no guarantees with tenders.
Mr Ellett and Mayor Jenny O'Connor confirmed to Cr Gaffney council had tried to get the state government to cover the extra $750,000.
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Cr Roberta Horne, who voted with Cr Gaffney against the recommendation, "couldn't get past" the footpaths and roads that could have been built instead.
Cr Sophie Price, who had earlier spoken about projects missing out in local sport infrastructure grants because of changed processes, agreed the money could have been better spent.
"(We have been) dragged kicking and screaming to approve an overrun in spending because of changes in state legislation," she said.
