The existing Cuttagee Bridge will be replaced. Photo: David Rogers Photography.
After sitting on it for some weeks, Bega Valley Shire Council has signed a revised funding agreement with the NSW Government for a further $15 million to fully fund a replacement of Cuttagee Bridge.
NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said at the last election she and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland committed an initial $15 million to restore Cuttagee Bridge.
“After a series of assessments and reports, it’s clear that the bridge needs to be replaced, not just restored. That’s why we’re investing a further $15 million towards the project,” she said.
“This funding will enable council to replace the existing single-lane bridge with a two-lane bridge with a shared path.”
Dr Holland said the funding was for council to get on with the job and build a safer, stronger and more accessible bridge.
“It is a lot of money but people don’t realise how much it costs to build a bridge,” he said. “The bridge is critical as we experienced in the 2018 Tathra bushfires, the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires and the 2023 Coolagolite Road bushfire.”
The new bridge will provide safe access for emergency services including fire trucks, ensuring the community remains connected and accessible during emergencies such as bushfires. Dr Holland said the load limit would remain at 15 tonnes.
“The bridge has been left in such a state of disrepair and you just have to walk under the bridge to see the state it has been left in with neglect,” he said. “The initial commitment was to restore, but when engineers assessed it, it would be complex and expensive.”
When asked about the other single-lane timber bridges south of Cuttagee, Dr Holland said they were the responsibility of council.
“The community has to speak to council so they don’t get into such a state of disrepair that they have to be replaced.”
NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland with people who want Cuttagee Bridge saved. Photo: File.
Phil Coates, a spokesperson for Restore Cuttagee Bridge Group, said they would continue to ramp up their efforts to save, restore and repair the existing bridge and the sensitive environment around the bridge so it was not damaged through construction.
He said they do not know if the funding agreement will be made public. The last one was not and the Save the Cuttagee Bridge Group had to pay to get it through the Government Information Public Access Act (GIPA).
“The disappointing comment from Dr Holland is while he says repair and restore would be expensive, it has never been quantified or properly considered,” Mr Coates said.
Planning is expected to be finalised over the coming months with the start of construction in early 2027 and completion in 2029.
Mr Coates questioned how work could start so soon given council does not have all the necessary approvals yet.
“Furthermore we have heard nothing of parking amenity there or a road safety plan.”
Dr Holland said the Review of Environmental Factors would consider elements such as biodiversity and heritage impact, including Aboriginal heritage impact.
“I have met twice with representatives of Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council to discuss their issues with it,” he said.
Regarding the heritage impact, Dr Holland said “they will try to use materials” from the existing bridge and “otherwise, other heritage characteristics will be maintained for the heritage nature”.
“People have strong feelings about the heritage nature but now the majority of people just want the bridge built,” he said.
So far community groups have spent considerable money to get information through the GIPA Act, an assessment of council’s three design options by globally recognised heritage expert Professor Richard Mackay AM and most recently a bat survey that confirmed the presence of the vulnerable Southern Myotis, known as Fishing Bats.
Mr Coates asked why council and Transport for NSW were intent on “dismantling our heritage and sense of identity”.
