THE replacement of the ageing wooden bridge connecting the front and back nines at the Narooma Golf Club is set to begin this week.
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And the project got as big boost when Michelle and Dean Friskin from the Narooma IGA decided to donate $1400 from the supermarket’s Community Chest program to the new bridge.
The program sees a portion of proceeds from certain items sold in IGA supermarkets around Australia donated to community projects, and previously Narooma IGA has donated to the groups including the Narooma Surf Life Saving Club, Marine Rescue and junior cricket.
Narooma Golf Club general manager Dominic Connaughton said the bridge replacement is set to take between three and four weeks and Wollongong company EFA Piling has been contracted to do the work.
“We’re hoping to get it back open as soon as Saturday the 18th of July but it could be another week after that,” he said.
The bridge was earmarked for replacement when the club’s other pedestrian bridge at the 10th hole suffered a partial collapse after a Bobcat excavator was being driven across.
Insurance covered the 10th hole bridge replacement with work being done by Eurobodalla Shire Council; but now the club has had to find $150,000 to replace the eighth-hole bridge over Little Lake, which was also deemed not strong enough to take golf carts.
The club has raised just under $30,000 toward the project, including this latest IGA donation, and is hopefully some additional funds can be recouped through State Government grants.
The design and construction of the new bridge, developed by local Narooma firm Tasman Engineering, is the same as the existing wooden bridge with a carrying capacity of 2.5 tonnes.
The back nine meanwhile was closed to golfers after the June long weekend, which according to Connaughton has impacted on the number of golfing visitors coming to Narooma.
The club may have a small opening ceremony and ribbon cutting once the new bridge is complete.
Club management is very grateful for all the work by its volunteers to shift golf carts around the broken bridge and also to the community for all the donations.