Mrs Hancock has written to the state Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey asking for funding to secure the structure and continue maintenance “for future generations”.

She said Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis had announced “the old bridge would stay” with no consultation and no proposal to provide the funds required to maintain the state managed asset over the coming decades.

Mrs Sudmalis made the announcement at the Nowra Bridge would be retained following construction of the new Princes Highway crossing over the Shoalhaven River at the Shoalhaven River Festival on October 28.

Read more: Nowra bridge should stay and the state should pick up the tab: Readers

Read more: ​Should the Nowra bridge stay or be removed?

“There was no consultation and no proposal to provide the funds required to maintain the bridge,” Mrs Hancock said.

At the time Mrs Sudmalis said the question of bridge maintenance funding was “not her issue”.

“Clearly, as demonstrated by the actions of the Federal Member a decision on the future of the bridge has been made, yet with no proposed plans to fund the ongoing costs,” Mrs Hancock said.

“It is disappointing the Commonwealth made such an announcement with no clear plan to secure future funding.”

Read more: MPs ask why the South Coast is treated like a second class citizen?

Shoalhaven City Council recently passed a motion confirming it was not in a financial position to maintain the bridge if it was handed back to the city.

“Given the failure of the Commonwealth to provide the required funding to maintain the historic structure, and the inability of Shoalhaven City Council to even offer a contribution to the bridge’s maintenance, I request the NSW Government allocate the funds to secure the bridge for future generations of South Coast residents,” Mrs Hancock said.

RMS documents reveal keeping the structure would cost between $15-$25 million to fix a variety of problems with the bridge and then a further maintenance cost of around $15m over 50 years or $300,000 a year.

To relocate or remove the structure is estimated to cost between $10-$20 million.

In her letter Mrs Hancock said the old whipple truss bridge was of “great historical significance to the local community” and the news that the bridge would be kept after the new bridge was built “had been well received”.

The 136-year-old, 342 metre “iconic” structure is often seen as the gateway to Nowra, was completed in 1881, and is the only example of a American pin-jointed Whipple truss bridge in service in NSW.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward shares his state colleague’s disappointment that an announcement was made around the retention of the Shoalhaven River bridge without any funding attached.

“I have also raised the matter with the Minister for Roads and together with Shelley we will take up the cause to make sure that ratepayers are not funding populist stunts,” Mr Ward said.

“As I have previously stated, I would like to see a 80-20 funding split for all future Princes Highway upgrades, given the fact neither Gerringong, Berry, Albion Park or Berry to Bomaderry have received a cent in federal government funding.”