Blueprint for Wodonga's Gateway Island recommends three pedestrian bridge be installed over the Murray River

The 91-page document also recommends a holiday park and botanic gardens be created on the land.

The bridges would cross the river near Albury’s Hovell Tree Park, the Kremur Street boat ramp and the rear of St Ives Hotel on the Lincoln Causeway.

The park crossing is deemed a short term priority with the others medium and long term desires.

The plan, produced by Albury consultancy Spiire, does not flag costs but a suspension bridge erected over Wodonga Creek in 2014 cost $520,000.

A redeveloped Weatherall’s Masonry on the causeway has been put forward as a holiday park site.

Powered sites for caravans and campervans would be created initially before on-site cabins were put on the circus land and eco-tourism south of Harvey’s Fun Park to allow glamping.  

The northern area of the island has been earmarked for a Riverine Native Botanic Garden designed to showcase native vegetation.

It would be accompanied by an interpretative centre.

Other proposals include a billabong to allow safe swimming north of the Gateway Village and installation of signage to mark historical links.

They include the sites of the Halfway Hotel, fruit fly checkpoint and customs house and the story of athlete Merv Lincoln who is recognised in the causeway’s name. 

The plan suggests the farmers’ market, staged fortnightly on the island, be held closer to the Murray River rather than in its current site on the Gateway car park.

Wodonga Council this week agreed to put the blueprint out for public comment until August 10.

Former mayor John Watson acknowledged it was the latest of a number of plans for the island which date back to 1997.

“I don’t want it to be another document on a shelf in an office that we have to blow the dust off and think we have to do the next consultation,” he said.

“We need to get action and move it forward.”

Councillor Kat Bennett said there was a chance to lobby for Victorian and NSW government funding with both states going to the polls in the next nine months.

“(With) elections looming and so many eyes are on us about how Albury and Wodonga work together, so this is a really great example of how we could do that and attract some funding,” she said.

Albury councillor Murray King, who is on a cross city council group, was excited by the plan, noting it would complement his city’s Murray River Experience.

He said he would not continue his push for a riverside caravan park in Albury in the wake of Weatheralls being flagged.