Roads Minister Duncan Gay says he will “shake a few trees” within his tight budget to see if he can match Uralla Shire Council’s $34,000 commitment to a feasibility study to replace the century old bridge over Emu Creek on the southern outskirts of Bundarra.
The Minister inspected the site last week and held discussions with council representatives and members of the community committee which is driving the project.
Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay said the estimated cost of the project was between $3.5M-$4M.
“Having the Minister on site to see for himself the inadequacy of the old bridge was invaluable,” he said. “Emu Bridge was closed 20 times due to flooding last spring and summer, disrupting traffic on Thunderbolt’s Way and making it very difficult for local businesses and residents.”
Proprietor of Bundarra’s Commercial Hotel, Rose Higgins, said that the Minister’s visit meant a lot to the local community. “Such top level political interest in the Emu Creek Bridge issue has really given locals faith that we will see a new, floodproof bridge,” she said.
During the talks, Uralla Council representatives said they would examine the priorities set in Council’s operational plan to establish a time line for the project if the State was prepared to make a contribution following a feasibility study.
“The community committee, headed by Bob Crouch, has made a convincing case for this new bridge,” Mr Torbay said. “The feasibility study would be a positive first step and I am hopeful the government will match council’s contribution.”
The MP attended the Emu Bridge Committee meeting with stakeholders in March.
The meeting heard that the concrete bridge over the Gwydir River, 3.5kms south of Bundarra, was little more than a culvert and prone to flooding after relatively small falls of rain upstream.
Built in 1908, it is estimated to have another three years before it would be unusable. There has been local pressure since 1935 to have it replaced. The situation is exacerbated by the increase in traffic along Thunderbolt’s Way, particularly B-Doubles, for which the bridge was never intended. Figures show the traffic averages 552 vehicles a day, including 185 trucks and B-Doubles.
Mr Torbay acknowledged the help of Sarah Mitchell MLC, who attended the March meeting and was responsible for pressing Mr Gay to make the inspection of the bridge.
