Transport and Roads Minister David Campbell reaffirmed an earlier Roads and Traffic Authority decision to only part-fund repairs to the structure.

TRC general manager, Glenn Inglis, described the Minister’s decision as “disappointing and pitiful”.

He said next week’s special council meeting would look at council’s options.

The meeting is expected to plan the next step in the fight to have the bridge – which collapsed after being damaged by floodwaters in December 2008 – replaced.

Council has been campaigning to have the bridge – which has lost three spans – replaced using natural disaster funds from the State Govt for the past 15 months.

Councillors and council staff met with Mr Campbell on January 27 to put their case for a review of the original RTA decision.

Mr Inglis said he expected Mr Campbell’s refusal to come to the party would lead to further calls for community action and new council solutions or battle plans.

The minister had written to council advising the State Government was only prepared to fund the replacement of the three missing spans to restore the structure to its pre-flood condition.

Council could use this money to part-fund the replacement of the bridge with a new low-level structure if it wished.

The substantial gap between what that would cost and what the State Government would provide would have to be borne by council.

Mr Inglis said the shortfall would be “significant”.

The RTA had originally argued the bridge was old and in a “deteriorated” condition before the floodwaters and debris hit it.

Mr Campbell’s latest letter indicates he and the RTA believe the old bridge was solid, (potentially) safe and fixable.