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Rotting Bridges Hinder Access For Fire-Fighters

By Philip Davis - 12th August 2005 - Back to News

Mr Davis said the Willow Grove Rural Fire Brigade’s jurisdiction included state parks, in which the bridges were in poor condition, hindering access in emergencies.

""The condition of the bridges within the state parks surrounding the brigade is quite often the primary response agency when fires occur in the parks close to the brigade’s assigned area," Mr Davis told the Parliament.

"Recently brigades in poor condition were removed at the Latrobe River and Bull Beef Creek on the Blue Rock Road.

"With these bridges removed, access to areas surrounding these bridges has been severely hindered."

Mr Davis said he was also concerned about the poor state of the bridge over the western branch of the Tanjil River on Rowleys Ridge Rd, because it was questionable as to whether it was capable of carrying the weight of a Country Fire Authority tanker.

"The support beams are showing signs of rot, which has substantially caused the bridge to sink at one end," he said.

"It is unclear whether these bridges are to be replaced or left in ruins, as has been the case with the bridge over the eastern branch of the Tanjil River and the ravine that is present of Mervs Track at Bull Beef Creek.

"The loss of the ability to cross these bridges has caused difficulties in accessing fires for the brigade in the past, and there is a perceived problem that the ongoing ability of the brigade to operate in this area is going to be curtailed."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com