Thames-Coromandel District Council is asking residents whether the council should help to keep the historic Kopu bridge.

The elected council wants to know just how important residents feel it is to retain the old Kopu bridge for heritage purposes – and is encouraging everyone in the district to complete an online survey on the issue.

Thames-Coromandel District Council is asking residents, via an online survey, for their opinion on keeping the old Kopu bridge.

The call comes from the Historic Kopu Bridge Society putting a proposal to the New Zealand Transport Agency to take over ownership of the bridge for heritage and community use.

TCDC says NZTA has refused the local proposal, partly because it's worried locals have underestimated the costs, and problems would fall back on the taxpayer.

The society has now asked for the council's involvement and support.

'We have had our engineering team compare both NZTA's and the local groups' proposals,” says the council statement to the community.

'You're [residents are] welcome to take a look at a summary from our Thames area manager here.”

The retention of the bridge will require significant annual operational funding, and TCDC says the proposal by the Historic Kopu Bridge Society is thought not to be a viable option unless government funding is made available.

'One solution may be to support the society by establishing a trust that would manage the demolition fund and appropriate funds to support the society's operation while retaining enough in the account to complete the eventual demolition of the structure, when required.

'Our elected council does not want any burden on our ratepayers if we help facilitate this.

'And they also want to know just how important you feel it is to retain the old bridge for heritage and community use.”

Benefits of keeping the historic structure include: retention of a Category One Heritage Item at the entrance to the Coromandel Peninsula; contribution to local and district heritage assets, perhaps as part of a future heritage trail; and leisure and recreational opportunity for locals and visitors, weekly bridge openings managed by the society.

It could also be a major feature of the Kopu to Kaiaua cycleway experience and create another reason to pull into Kopu, supporting local businesses.

Disadvantages to the project include: management of the demolition fund will require council resources; and operating and renewal costs, including upgrades of handrails, painting and concrete repairs, will require ongoing fundraising by the society.

Plus, if the society fails the burden of continued retention costs or demolition costs – if these costs are more that what's held in trust– will become council's responsibility.

TCDC says another thing to note is on March 29, 2013, it received feedback on an advertisement in the local newspapers, giving 125 responses showing 69 per cent in support of demolition and 31 per cent in favour of retention of the bridge.

However, the society has received 2600 signatures to their petition to save the bridge.

TCDC's involvement in management and/or ownership of the bridge is the last opportunity for saving the Historic Kopu Bridge.

As result, the council want to know for the last time if residents think it's important to retain the old Kopu bridge or not.

'Please let our elected members know your opinion by taking this very short straw-poll survey.

'The survey is not scientific or legally binding, but helps our elected members get an idea of what our communities want before they decide to go any further in a commitment to this project.

'We appreciate your taking the time to let us know how you feel.”

To take the survey, click here.

The survey closes at 11:30pm on Sunday August 31, 2014.