The funding has come from all three tiers of government with the Federal and State Governments chipping in three-quarters of the funds needed for the $2 million replacement bridge.

Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey, yesterday confirmed the State Government’s commitment of $500,000 to the project, wrapping up a day of early gift-giving in the Nambucca.

The NSW Government has set aside more than $1 billion for regional road and rail projects under its Fixing Country Roads, Fixing Country Rail, and Bridges for the Bush programs which Mrs Pavey said is available as a direct result of the government’s sale of metropolitan poles and wires.

“Lanes Bridge is a timber bridge that is over 90 years old and the last major rehabilitation took place over 26 years ago. It is heavily affected by flooding and on average is closed for 16 days per year,” Mrs Pavey said.

“The bridge requires emergency repairs and temporary speed load limits after each flooding event, and it is estimated that following the replacement, bridge closures will reduce from 16 down to just 5 days per year.

“Also, importantly, Council should see a reduction in maintenance costs of 97 percent, and the community should see the project generate eight full time jobs during construction.”

Mayor Rhonda Hoban has welcomed the latest announcement of funding for the project which has decreased the council’s financial responsibility to just $500,000.

“It’s always been an event whenever this bridge floods,” Cr Hoban said.

“I remember one flood, around 2009, when the bridge deck was thrust up at a right angle from the pylons, and I thought ‘oh good, now we might get some state disaster relief funding for the upgrade’.

“But remarkably, when the water and debris receded, the bridge came straight back down on its pylons, comparatively undamaged.

“This upgrade won’t make the bridge flood-proof, but it’ll be a lot better than what it is now.”

READ MORE: Lanes Bridge to be replaced

The new bridge construction is scheduled to start before the end of the financial year.

Council general manager Michael Coulter said the council needed to complete the costing and tender process before more details about the bridge and its approaches are released to the public.