Bega Valley Shire Council is likely to request the State Government fund the whole controversial Cuttagee Bridge project.
Last week Transport for NSW made an offer to reconsider only tipping in the previously promised $15-million.
Council General Manager Anthony McMahon said he is recommending Councillors ask for the remaining $12.75 million.
“The offer from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is most welcome as the current project funding of $15 million is not sufficient to deliver a new bridge,” Mr McMahon said.
“The latest costings for the bridge renewal, including a temporary bridge and access we will need to provide during construction, will cost $27.75 million,” he said.
“I have recommended to Council for next Wednesday’s meeting that we ask the NSW Government for the remaining $12.75 million.”
Council resolved in November 2025 to build a two-lane concrete structure and has been progressing detailed design and environmental assessments in line with that decision and the funding deed between Council and TfNSW.
“The offer from TfNSW has come with a request for a revised design. If we change the design of the bridge at this stage there will likely be cost and time impacts, however we will work with TfNSW and the consultants working on the project to ensure these are minimised,” Mr McMahon said.
“Should Council support the recommendation at the meeting next week we will seek further clarity from TfNSW on the finer details of the revised funding agreement.”
Mr McMahon said any changes to the funding agreement regarding delivery timeframes will need to be realistic.
“This is a complex project and rushing things could cause more issues,” he said.
“We need full funding, a final design, detailed construction planning, environmental assessments and approvals in place before work can get started. Some of these are already well advanced.”
Bega Valley Shire Council’s boss also rejected our earlier report that an offer was made to reconsider proving the extra funding during a meeting with the State Government early last week.
Mr McMahon says he was in the meeting and the government’s story differed from what actually happened.
“All they said was if there was an opportunity to seek more funding would council be interested and if it came and there were caveats would that be an issue,” he said.
“We sort of talked through that. Talked about how depending on what sort5 of design changes were expected for additional funding then that may counter any sort of speeding up of the project they were chasing.
“The timing of how that came about was out of sync with the Minister’s office but working through that now.”
