A major milestone in the building of a new bridge across Cuttagee Lake.
We can reveal the funding Deed of Agreement was signed by Transport for NSW late yesterday meaning Bega Valley Shire Council have the money to build a new two-lane concrete bridge with timber aspects.
The $30 million also includes removal of the current 134-year-old bridge despite loud objections from many local residents.
Local State MP Michael Holland said it’s now up to the council to get on with the job.
“They’re responsible for delivering the whole project,” Dr Holland said.
“They have to continue with the planning and design and approval works over the coming months,” he said.
“We’ve got the money there for them. They’ve got to do the right thing and get the approaches to the bridge done as well as the replacement of the bridge in the long term.”
Work is expected to get underway on site once the Christmas New Years Holiday is over.
The funding is an about face from the State Government who initially pledged $15 million before the last election to restore the much loved historic timber bridge.
“It would be high risk, very expensive and it would be a shorter design life,” Dr Holland said.
“We need a long term outcome for the safety of the community, for the accessibility, for the reliability and for the resilience,” he said.
“That includes daily travel but also includes our busy holiday times and also we have to be resilient in times of emergencies.”
