Council has resolved to formally close the site of the old Glenorchy Bridge over the Wimmera River to all traffic permanently, subject to a satisfactory report from VicRoads.

It was also resolved by council to name the unnamed road reserve from the northern side of the Wimmera River crown reserve, through to the intersection of Marl Street and Carfrae St, Glenorchy, and the road be included in the shire road register as a public road, with the name of the road to be determined following consultation with the Glenorchy Progress Association.

The wheels have been set in motion for the old bridge to be demolished, but council advised that some salvaged timber would be used for a model of the bridge to be built. The remainder will be stockpiled on site for later sale, or reuse by the community, or as firewood by locals.

The Glenorchy Progress Association suggested an alternative use for the timber could be to construct seating on both sides of the river.

Cr Wayne Rice said a long time had passed since he first moved that the old bridge be demolished and he was glad that so much work had gone into planning for the future.

``It has been a very long process,'' he said.

``I have been pleased with the consultation. The Progress Association said they wanted a replica and would like seats made out of the original timber. These are all good projects.

``The process has been a long one, but at the end of the day, we will come up with a good outcome for the community, as well as having safety in mind.''

Cr Kevin Erwin said he was happy to finally see an end to what had been a long saga, while Cr Ian Nicholson said safety had been a real concern for a long time.

``The bridge has been a safety problem and has been closed for longer than many people care to remember,'' Cr Nicholson said.

``The demolition of the bridge will hurt people in the Glenorchy community, but the building of a new model bridge is something the people of the town should really be involved in.''

Mayor Cr Bryan Small said his greatest hope was that the bridge be carefully photographed to ensure its history can be preserved.

``I just hope the bridge is carefully photographed for general posterity,'' he said.

``I know a lot of general photographs have been taken, but my wish is that the bridge be properly recorded for posterity sake.

``There will come a day when there aren't any wooden bridges around and I think it is important that it is properly recorded that bridges such as this one did exist in Victoria.''