Coromandel MP Scott Simpson believes the time for talking about the fate of the old Kopu bridge is now over.

On Monday Scott called on the 'powers that be” – that being the New Zealand Transport Agency – to stick to its original plan of demolishing the 465-metre bridge that was built back in 1927-1928.

Coromandel MP Scott Simpson is calling for a decision to be made on the old Kopu bridge. Photo: File

Since the opening of the now not-so-new Kopu bridge back in 2011, the loudest voice calling for the retention and preservation of the old bridge has come from the Historic Kopu Bridge Society.

But Scott says the society have had enough time to convince the NZTA, who own the old bridge, and as far as he could see there is 'no compelling case to keep it”.

'I continues to receive questions and comments from my constituents who say what on earth is going on with the old Kopu Bridge,” says Scott. 'Has anyone made a decision, what is the decision process, who makes the decision and when will a final decision be made?”

Along with the NZTA, Scott says both the Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki District councils are also involved in deciding the future of the old bridge. This is because the boundaries of both councils meet halfway across the bridge.

But it's also Scott's understanding that both councils do not want the bridge to become a burden on ratepayers, thus why they were treading carefully.

He says the old bridge has become 'a derelict eyesore” which should be deconstructed, but is open to the idea of keeping the centre span and incorporating it into a land-based park project.

He also worries about the safety of the old bridge saying it has visibly deteriorated over the last three years.

'It does nothing to enhance our region,” explains Scott. 'It's now just a blot on our landscape, hardly appropriate for the gateway to the Coromandel.

'I think that with three and a half years having gone by with no resolution in sight, the time has now come for a final decision.”

Coromandel MP Scott Simpson. Photo: File

But the Coromandel MP's comments have been met with disbelief by Historic Kopu Bridge Society chairman Gary Blake who is surprised by Scott's comments.

'Yeah let's get on with it, but not to wreck it, the bridge is far too valuable to wreck,” says Gary. 'The Institution of Professional Engineers rank it as their number one heritage structure and Heritage NZ has a class one rating it on it.

'The bridge is in hellishly good condition despite its use and lack of servicing, several people have made the joke that the old bridge will be there well after the new bridge.

'So yes, let's get on with it for sure, we've been asking to get together with the NZTA so we can sort the bloody issue out. It's such a struggle to get a meeting with anyone from the NZTA.”

Gary says one issue early on in the piece was the NZTA 'absolutely rubbishing” a 50-year business management plan for the bridge prepared by the society and Opus International Consultants.

The NZTA decided their funding plan was not financially viable or sustainable, either because the society underestimated or not accounted for the costs of future operations and maintenance.

By NZTA estimates, it'd cost about $2.3 million to upgrade the bridge for walking and cycling, plus around $250,000 a year for maintenance, which would have to be raised by whoever take over the bridge's ownership.

'But our estimates put it at $70,000 to upgrade the bridge, with maintenance costs of about $50,000 a year, so that caused a bit of mayhem.

'We envision a huge future for the old Kopu Bridge, it could become a destination in its own right as an exciting heritage walk and would also link up to the various trails in the region fantastically.”

'It's pretty frustrating, we give our time and we do it because we want to see a good result, but you don't know what's happening behind the scenes.”

The society has received backing from the Thames-Coromandel District Council, who at a meeting in October passed a resolution to support in principle the retention of the Bridge.

But this was conditional on a number of measures that eliminated the risk of future costs to ratepayers.

Earlier in 2014 the TCDC commissioned a public poll on whether the old bridge should be retained, with 42 per cent of respondents in favour while 58 per cent opposed the idea.

Response to the poll's second question saw 70 per cent of respondent say they weren't prepared to contribute financially to the retention of the bridge.

SunLive has approached the NZ Transport Agency, the Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki District councils for comment.

Historic Kopu Bridge Society chairman Gary Blake. Photo: File