Council secures multi-million-dollar bridge grant funding
Wingecarribee Shire Council has secured $3.5 million in grant funding from the NSW State Government to renew four ageing bridges across the Shire.
A total of $3,509,170 was obtained under the State Governments Fixing Country Bridges Program and will be spent replacing four bridges located in MIttagong, Bowral, Wildes Meadows and Meryla.
Wingecarribee Shire Mayor, Councillor Duncan Gair welcomed the announcements.
“This is great news for both residents located in the immediate vicinity of the bridges and those further afield,” he said.
“Bridges are a critical component of our local transport infrastructure and help connect people between towns and villages.”
Mayor Gair said the new bridges would require less maintenance than the old timber structures.
“These new bridges have the benefit of being constructed from concrete and steel which provides greater resilience and safety especially during flood and bushfire events.”
The four bridges to be replaced are located at:
- Burrawang Creek Bridge in Wildes Meadows ($1,224,000),
- Ritters Creek Bridge in Meryla ($400,000),
- Diamond Fields Creek Bridge in Mittagong ($778,170),
- Merrigang Street Bridge in Bowral ($1,107,000)
Under the Fixing Country Bridges Program Program, a total of 424 bridges will be replaced across 54 regional councils in NSW.
Works on all four bridge replacements will begin within the 2021/22 financial year.
Over the last few years Council has progressively renewed its most vulnerable bridges and the renewal of these latest four bridges represents the upgrade of the last full timber constructed bridges in the Shire.
Mayor Gair said the allocation of grant funding was particularly timely given the current economic climate.
“It’s more important than ever that we continue to invest in projects that support local businesses,” he said. “And this funding is another example of the assistance that our local Members provide for our rural communities.”
“Both the State Members for Goulburn and Wollondilly, Wendy Tuckerman and Nathaniel Smith continue to be strong advocates for our Shire and we’re grateful for their continued support.”
Council was advised of the successful grant applications in February by the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, the Hon Paul Toole MP.