While the Central Otago District Council has been confirmed as the legal owner of the piers, there is still a "long way to go" with a conservation plan, CODC spokesman Matthew Sole said.
Such a plan was essential before any work could be done on the Clutha River relics, Mr Sole told a recent meeting of the bridge piers steering group.
Just who would fund such a plan was unclear but Alexandra businessman Russell Ibbotson suggested a separate trust could be formed.
If that was done, it would highlight the project as being its own entity and would take it away from the Cultural Centre Trust, which had offered to help raise the funds.
The Central Lakes Trust might also shy away from funding if the restoration was under the umbrella of the CODC, he said.
The group agreed it needed an umbrella organisation to work under in order to access funds from the Lotteries Environment Heritage fund.
Cam Withington said the New Zealand Historic Places Trust could produce the conservation plan if funding was provided.
Lighting for the two bridge piers was well under way and plans had been drawn up for spotlights to be fixed to the main bridge which would shine on to the old piers.
About $15,000 has been put aside for the lighting project.
Engineer Steve Tilleyshort said work should begin on December 15 and would take a couple of days. Some residents were worried the lights would shine on houses but Mr Tilleyshort said the lights had very deep reflectors on them and the spread of light was narrow and would not interfere with the nearby houses.
Contractors working on a new power box near the main bridge had installed a separate switch for the lights in the interests of energy conservation, Mr Tilleyshort said.
A design presented at the group's previous meeting for a walking bridge was discussed.
Some members were concerned that large floods could destroy the bridge but John Breen, of Breen Construction, told the meeting those obstacles could be overcome by raising the bridge deck from its original height.
Vincent Community Board chairwoman Clair Higginson said all the information gathered needed to go back to the community board.
"We need to say it looks like they are your bridge piers.
"Here's the work we've done, and here's some ideas that we can do to work with you, to go forward."
