The Cuttagee Bridge Community Advisory Group established by Bega Valley Shire Council held its first meeting on Monday 1 November.
The group, currently comprised of eight community members, will have a key role in representing the community and providing advice to Council on how to capture the heritage aspects of the bridge in any future construction or restoration project at the site.
Council’s Acting Director of Assets and Operations, Ian Macfarlane said it was a productive first meeting with all members of the advisory group committed to working with Council on a solution for Cuttagee Bridge.
“Cuttagee Bridge is nearing the end of its functional life and is already subject to weight restrictions due to the deteriorating condition of its ageing timbers,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“In making any plans about the bridge’s future, be that repair, restoration or replacement, we need to weigh up a wide range of complex factors including cost, potential funding opportunities, risk and safety, durability, heritage and tourism values, and environmental issues—all of which are complex issues with significant community interest.
“The role of the community advisory group is to help us, on behalf of the community, consider these complex and often competing priorities and provide advice to Council that assists in determining the best way forward for this key asset.
“Now the advisory group has been established, their first task is to review the studies and reports we have already commissioned and provide input into what it considers to be the best way forward.
“The recommendations of the group will then be presented to Council next year, along with technical reports, independent expert advice and other relevant material.
“The Tathra-Bermagui Road is an important road for our shire—it not only provides north-south access for some of our coastal communities, including locals, visitors, emergency services and deliveries to support businesses in the area including tourism activities, it also operates as an alternate route if the Princes Highway is closed.
“I’d like to thank the advisory group members for committing their time, energy and expertise to represent the community and work with Council to help us find a solution for Cuttagee Bridge.”
To date, Council has received a number of technical reports and surveys including a Geotechnical Investigation Report, Features and Contours Survey, Replacement Preliminary Design, Engineering Options Report, Pedestrian Lane Concept Design, Heritage Assessment, Coastal Hazards report and Review of Environmental Factors. A Structural Assessment report is due later this month.
Advisory Group members were selected following a public expression of interest process.
More information, including these reports, is available on the Cuttagee Bridge renewal project page on Council’s website: https://begavalley.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-XGH-37-21-83
Above: Cuttagee Bridge on the Tathra-Bermagui Road is nearing the end of its functional life.
