The petition containing 400 signatures was forwarded to the council in the hope it would re-visit the issue at its next meeting on Tuesday.

It was co-ordinated by the Mulwala Progress Ass- ociation with signatures collected over 10 days.

Another petition was launched by the Green Route community group yesterday with the aim of collecting between 5000 and 10,000 signatures, including those from the annual Easter tourism invasion.

Association president Rob Purtle said the survey feedback should ensure the council re-considered its support of the grey route for the bridge across Lake Mulwala.

“As an organisation, we feel as though we have got the entire town behind us on this one,” he said.

“If we had another week and a half I would have had 800 signatures.

“But we had to close it today to ensure it gets on the agenda for next week, when I am hoping the councillors will address it.

“They could table it and not even discuss it, but I am hoping they will do something this time.”

Mr Purtle made a lone presentation to council on the issue in January, but failed to spark one question from councillors.

Mayor Fred Longmire was forced to deny he gagged councillors at the meeting.

The council has repeatedly backed the grey route alongside the Lake Mulwala traffic bridge.

The green route is further west towards the Yarrawonga Weir wall road, which is due to be closed in 2020.

The Green Route Community Group is also pushing for the retention of the present bridge for pedestrians and cyclists when the replacement is built.

Former Moira Shire mayor John Lawless is part of the community group hoping to convince VicRoads, NSW Roads and Maritime Services and local politicians Tim McCurdy and Greg Aplin to keep the old bridge.

He said the petition had the support of the Mulwala Progress Association, Yarrawonga-Mulwala Tourism and Yarrawonga-Mulwala Chamber of Commerce.

“We want everyone in the Yarrawonga-Mulwala community to get behind the petition and sign it,” he said.

“This is the last roll of the dice to prove it before a final decision has been made.”

Mr Lawless confirmed he had recently met with Corowa general manager Chris Gillard to discuss the issue.