Council adopted a master plan for the Swing Bridge precinct, which included clean-up work and the installation of tables, chairs and information signs at its Tuesday meeting.

Management of the precinct would cost council at least $50,000 a year, around double what it already spends.

Council took over responsibility for sections of the former South Gippsland Highway and the bridge from VicRoads in 2006, but has never had legal jurisdiction to carry out works on the adjacent land.

The master plan also includes a potential boat landing platform, which was initially costed at between $150,000 and $200,000. Design and costs for this and any other associated project will need to go before council for approval.

Mayor Darren McCubbin described the Swing Bridge, the only working bridge of its type in the southern hemisphere, as "undeniably one of the jewels of the Wellington Shire''.

"Unfortunately that jewel sits in the middle of a swamp, a swamp which is poorly maintained, which isn't our land, it belongs to the Crown ... that DSE has no interest whatsoever in maintaining and looking after that resource.

"Unless we own or manage that precinct, we are unlikely as a council to have significant investment in that area. In order to put in this significant infrastructure, we need to at least manage or control the land.''

Deputy mayor Scott Rossetti said while council promoted Sale as a place for visitors to base themselves at to travel to the coast and high country, it was good to build up near-by attractions.

"I don't think the cost is significant, considering the amount of benefit we get from tourism,'' he said.

Councillor Malcolm Hole spoke against council assuming responsibility for the maintenance of Crown land.

"I get a little bit concerned that we're taking on more added cost. What is it actually going to cost council to take over more land from the DSE or Crown land?'' he said.

Swing Bridge precinct advisory group member Allan Lewis said the area should be made a heritage precinct with the bridge as its centrepiece.

Mr Lewis said among the works needed would be traffic calming measures.

"People are concerned about walking on the roads, so we've made a recommendation in respect to that,'' he said.