From left: Eurobodalla Shire Council’s director of infrastructure, Warren Sharpe; Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Liz Innes; Rosedale Association representative David Boardman; Member for Bega Andrew Constance; and council’s construction coordinator Greg Knight, at the newly replaced Rosedale footbridge. Photo: Supplied.
The bushfire-ravaged community of Rosedale on the NSW South Coast is now physically reunited with the replacement of a footbridge that has linked north and south for generations.
“It’s all one Rosedale and now we’ve re-established the physical connection,” said Rosedale resident of 54 years, David Boardman, at the official opening of the footbridge on 24 July.
Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Liz Innes was also present at the opening of the Rosedale footbridge and welcomed new NSW Government infrastructure spending in the shire while praising council’s delivery of bushfire recovery projects in the face of COVID-19. She said she couldn’t be happier for local villagers.
“This footbridge gives back the north and south access the people of Rosedale have enjoyed for generations, but lost during the bushfires,” said Mayor Innis.
Eurobodalla Shire Council’s construction coordinator, Greg Knight, said the previous bridge was built with softwood timber and burnt in the bushfires despite efforts by residents to save it.
“This new bridge has stronger timbers and a fibreglass deck,” he said. “We expect this bridge to be around upwards of 50-odd years.”
Also present at the Rosedale footbridge opening was Member for Bega Andrew Constance, who said the reconnection of north and south Rosedale is another step forward in community recovery, with the bridge funded by disaster welfare money, and council works crews delivering once again.
Mr Constance took the opportunity to announce significant infrastructure spending in Eurobodalla, including $3.1 million for local roads in the shire and $2.48 million for marine infrastructure across the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley shires.
At Brierleys Boat Ramp on Moruya’s North Head, Mayor Innes said the grant included significant upgrades to boat ramp facilities at Hanging Rock in Batemans Bay, a new pontoon for Narooma Apex Park boat ramp, facilities upgrades at Mossy Point boat ramp, and new facilities and upgrades for Brierleys Boat Ramp.
From left: Eurobodalla Shire Council’s director of infrastructure, Warren Sharpe; Eurobodalla Shire Council Mayor Liz Innes; Councillor Jack Tait; and Member for Bega Andrew Constance, at Brierleys Boat Ramp, Moruya. Photo: Supplied.
“Considering what we’ve been through with bushfires and COVID-19, I think the community will be reassured to see that council has proactively sought funding to improve our shire,” she said.
“With this money we will deliver some excellent projects for our boaters and fishers, and for the wider community. When travel is safe again, tourists wanting to share our unique coast bring economic benefits to us all.
“We’re incredibly successful in securing infrastructure funds thanks to our proven delivery record and the competence of people such as infrastructure director Warren Sharpe and his teams. The state government knows our projects are shovel-ready, and that they’ll be delivered on time and on budget.”
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