A report to be discussed at this morning's infrastructure services committee outlines the council's fears that if the bridge falls into disrepair it might not be able to host utility services such as power, gas, water and sewerage, or be used by cyclists and pedestrians.
The report recommends the council negotiates an arrangement with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ''that may entail [the] council acquiring the bridge''.
However, acquiring the bridge could expose the council to expensive maintenance bills. In particular, it is likely $500,000 is needed within 20 years to have the bridge beams repainted.
Another option is to not acquire the bridge nor to lease it, and the third option is to lease the bridge pathway and carriageway, which would enable the council to opt out of an arrangement if it found the costs unsustainable.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has indicated a new bridge is likely to be constructed between 2015-18 and construction could take two years.
At present the existing bridge is owned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and leased to the NZTA for $1 a year, but the agency is responsible for the bridge's maintenance.
''The ministry is an unwilling owner of the bridge and its commitment to its ongoing availability for utilities, cyclists and pedestrians is uncertain,'' the report said.
''The ministry `inherited' the bridge because it is a dam structure and has a historic places trust listing.''
The ministry has not suggested that it would allow the bridge to fall into disrepair but ''as a key utility provider and a supporter of the Queenstown Trails Network, there is a responsibility on [the] council to seek the continued security of access to the structure.''
An engineering report commissioned by the council said the bridge beams would need to be repainted within the next 20 years, annual maintenance could be $50,000 and it could cost $132,500 to bring the bridge up to such a standard that the council would agree to ownership.
The NZTA says adequate walking and cycling access is provided for on the proposed new bridge so retention of the old bridge is not essential.
The report recommends the committee negotiate an agreement with the ministry to secure the availability of the existing bridge for utility services, cyclists and pedestrians and for it to agree in principle to ownership transferring to the council if the benefits outweigh the cost of transfer and maintenance.
The council's infrastructure general manager Erik Barnes said agreeing to the two recommendations does not commit the council to any costs but allows it to open negotiations.
