Leslie Williams has slammed the decision by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to repair the existing Stingray Creek Bridge instead of going ahead with building a completely new bridge.
The Member for Port Macquarie said the Camden Haven community had the right to feel betrayed by the unanimous decision made at the Council meeting last Wednesday, February 20.
“Despite many years of planning, $6 million in State Government funding, the approval of an $8.6 million low interest loan and countless meetings and community consultations, Council has now decided to repair the 50 year old bridge instead of the promised replacement.
Council some serious questions about their sudden change of plans.”
According to Council, independent reports commissioned in 2012 identified feasible options for repairs to the existing bridge for a range of load capacities and provided Council an opportunity to review its plan of management for the asset.
Director of Infrastructure Services, Jeffery Sharp clarified
that this latest independent analysis of the bridge included more rigorous testing techniques than had been previously used.
“The latest testing did not show the level of degradation in the bridge that we had expected, which may be attributable to the load limit placed on the bridge some time ago. It therefore made a major repair a viable and cost effective alternative,” said Mr Sharp.
In considering the issue, Councillors acknowledged that this was a variation in the strategy that had been pursued by previous Councils, but the adopted strategy is a commitment to delivering a result that can be funded and ensures improved infrastructure is delivered in a reasonable timeframe.
Council have committed to building a financial reserve to fund the inevitable replacement of the bridge in a 20 year timeframe.
Mayor Peter Besseling said the preferred repair option, estimated to cost between $2 and $3 million, would ensure that the vital link between Laurieton and North Haven will be serviced by a much improved piece of infrastructure.
“This has been a longstanding issue for Council and is an example of aging infrastructure where replacement hadn’t been fully funded. I’m pleased that the latest studies on the bridge have presented this Council with a viable option to ensure the community has access to a far safer and more effective crossing,” said CouncillorBesseling.
Mrs Williams said that while the new “touch up job”was much cheaper in the short term, she questioned the ability of Council to guarantee it would have the funding in 2034 to replace the bridge.
“Even if Council starts to allocate funding each year for the bridge replacement project, imagine how much more expensive it will be in 20 years to construct, as opposed to utilising a low interest loan now to get the job done,” Mrs Williams said.
“I think this is a short sighted decision and the community has every right to be both angry and disappointed with this outcome.”
Repair works, estimated to take between four and six months to complete.
This will include strengthening and widening the bridge deck to 7.1 metres, repairing existing piers and girders, footpath replacement and the installation of new traffic barriers.
“Stingray Creek Bridge is an important infrastructure asset for Council and significant step forward has been achieved to ensure its long term management is structurally, environmentally and economically sustainable,” Councillor Besseling said.
Council is now seeking approval from the State Government to retain and reallocate the $6 million in special grant funds, previously awarded as a part-contribution toward the bridge’s replacement, to finance the repair option.
Mrs Williams said the O’Farrell/Stoner Government had made a firm commitment to maintain funding to help Council build the new bridge and would honour the election commitment.
“Hence, the State Government’s funding commitments will NOT be redirected to other Council projects,” Mrs Williams said.
“In our first state budget, the NSW Government allocated $3.2 million towards building a new bridge, while this financial year we allocated another $1.325 million
. Combined with previous funding commitments, a total of $6 million has been offered to the Council to build a new bridge.
“Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has already claimed
and received a total of $675,000 from the Roads & Maritime Services towards studies and design of the bridge. We had also given approval for another $250,000 for the current financial year,” Mrs Williams said.
“The offer of $6 million has been based on Council’s own estimate of $12 million and any additional funding required to replace the Stingray Creek Bridge would be the Council’s responsibility.
“It is understood Council now believes building the new bridge will cost in the vicinity of $14.6 million, and the Council has since obtained approval for a low-interest loan from the NSW Government for the $8.6 million funding gap,” Mrs Williams said.
“The Council has let a contract for the detailed design of the new bridge, which will include a detailed construction estimate.
This work was expected to be completed in April 2013. As such, the project would then be ‘shovel ready’ in mid-2013.
“With the project so advanced, it’s disappointing to now hear the Council is intending to renege on building a new bridge over the Stingray Creek,” Mrs Williams said.
