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$1.5 Million Bridge Works Complete New bridges worth $1.5 million will be officially opened in Wellington Shire this week. By Wellington Shire Council - 29th September 2003 - Back to News Federal member for Gippsland Peter McGauran will open the new Merriman’s Creek Bridge on Thursday (2 October) on behalf of Wellington Shire Council at a ceremony also celebrating the opening of Harkins Bridge at Cowwarr and Kellas Bridge at Tinamba.
The three bridges have been replaced by Wellington Shire Council using "Roads To Recovery" funding –Merriman’s Creek Bridge has cost $670,000 to replace, Harkin’s Bridge $520,00 and Kellas Bridge $240,000.
Wellington Shire Council Chief Executive Lyndon Webb said the new bridges were much needed facilities that couldn’t have been replaced without the support of the Roads To Recovery program.
"The Merriman’s Creek Bridge provides the only access between Rosedale and Gormandale and like all three bridges, it had passed it’s used by date," he said.
"It’s an important facility considering it services a bus route, many logging trucks and milk tankers headed to the surrounding dairy districts.
"We’re delighted with the opportunity provided by the Roads To Recovery program to replace these outdated facilities and improve our service to the local community."
Harkin’s Bridge services a bus route and log traffic, while Kellas Bridge is important for local traffic.
"Harkin’s Bridge is widely used by tourists traveling from the Latrobe Valley to our beautiful High Country views at Licola and by the many visitors to Lake Glenmaggie Weir," Mr Webb said.
Mr Webb stressed the importance of "Roads To Recovery", which is a five year Federal Government program injecting $1.2 billion into road improvements. Some $850 million of that is dedicated to rural and regional Australia.
He said he is alarmed at reports suggesting the Federal Government will not continue the program beyond next year.
Roads To Recovery, now in its fourth year, had allowed Council to make a start to the long process of repairing and upgrading dilapidated roads and bridges built up as a backlog since well before amalgamation.
"We can’t possibly make up the backlog unless this program continues," he said.
Wellington Shire Council is the third largest Shire in Victoria geographically and is responsible for around 200 bridges and 3000km of roads – that’s the distance form Sale to Perth.
The huge geographic area leaves Wellington with more assets to maintain in proportion to the population than many other Shires.
"We have developed a replacement program to extend over the next 10 years, but the financial commitment is beyond our individual means," he said.
"It has cost us $1.5 million to replace the three bridges that we are about to officially open, and we have another hundred timber bridges listed for repairs or upgrades.
"The task to catch up road and bridge maintenance is too much for Local Government alone."
Wellington Shire Council is working with the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services Working Group and South Eastern Australian Transport Strategy (SEATS) as well as other proactive lobby groups to make the Government aware of the need for continued road funding.
"Here in Wellington Shire we have some 100 timber bridges in need of repairs or complete replacement, plus a long list of roads works.
"An estimate to replace and upgrade the bridges alone is $13 million.
"We have a five year plan for the most urgent works and need the Roads To Recovery program to continue to enable us to complete these urgent works."
Council will use this year’s allocation of Roads To Recovery funding to replace Grogan's Bridge, on the Boisdale Newry Road, Nobles Bridge, on the Bushy Park Valencia Creek Road and Tom's Creek Bridge, Lindenow Meerlieu Road.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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