A community advocacy group says it's disturbed by new reports of Cuttagee Bridge's disrepair, and in particular the timing of the announcement on the eve of Saturday's council election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Save Cuttagee Bridge community group spokesperson Sheena Boughen questioned the timing of the announcement of a 10 tonne load limit and criticised council for what she called, "piecemeal planning".
"We were shocked that the announcement came out on the Friday afternoon on the eve of an election," said Ms Boughen.
"But what matters most is that we all want a serviceable bridge regardless of what it's made out of or how it's considered."
She said the group found it "disturbing" that despite council knowing for a long time that the bridge was in deteriorating condition, the announcement on Friday, "gave very little hope of repair".
Ms Boughen questioned why there had been no action to prioritise its maintenance or come up with an alternative plan since the Fixing Country Bridges grant was rejected in March due to an inability to comply with the two-year deadline.
"If you said no to the funding, what has the plan been and how has the council taken an appropriate stewardship over caring for our community so we were not at risk or inconvenienced?"
"I don't want to sound cynical because I'm an optimist, but our group feels very strongly that with all the information that we've got through freedom of information is that there's ample evidence they've known for a long time that it was this bad.
READ MORE:
- Community rally for consultation on Cuttagee Bridge
- Community group says Cuttagee Bridge demolition destined to increase freight on Tathra-Bermagui Road
- Council staff 'myth-bust' community group claims Cuttagee Bridge will be used as a 'freight corridor'
- Historic South Coast bridge could be restored timber expert tells community forum
"Then on a Friday afternoon we get an announcement 24 hours before an election that our bridge is totally changed in terms of how we're now inconvenienced," said Ms Boughen.
Ms Boughen said the group would reject any claim by council that it could not carry out maintenance because it did not know the extent of the damage.
"There's been money spent on the Murrah Bridge, there's been money spent on Sandy Creek Bridge and there is money available for maintenance of other things, so we don't buy the argument that it's about money," she said.
"We of course recognise that to build any good, progressive modern bridge, that the council needs grants, but maintenance money exists.
"We feel as if there's been a total neglect by the previous council to explore other options to our advantage."
Ms Boughen said the group was optimistic that a new council would have a different take on the bridge and would be open to exploring options other than the demolition of the historic wooden bridge.
"Regardless of who is elected, we've got majority of the candidates having pledged to explore other options, of course they've got to find out more information and research it."
