The Nambucca Valley has another chance to replace the last of its ageing timber bridges through the NSW Government's Fixing Country Bridges program.
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The importance of replacing these dated bridges was highlighted in November when the top end of South Arm was cut off after fires took out two wooden bridges. Two others were also damaged in the same fire.
Any funds received through the program would be heartily welcomed by council.
"Nambucca Shire Council alone is responsible for 171 bridges on local roads and whilst we have got through the bulk of our needed bridge replacements there are quite a few remaining to be done," Council General Manager Michael Coulter said in February last year.
"Our Asset Management Plan for bridges requires the Council to continue to spend between $500,000 and $800,000 per year for the next four years on capital upgrades of bridges or bridge replacements.
"And overall we have identified 37 which will require work over the ensuing 10 years."
Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said the state government had noted the weight of financial responsibility local councils had to bear to maintain these fading structures.
"The first round of Fixing Country Bridges recognises that maintenance of ageing timber bridges across regional NSW is a major burden for local councils and rate payers," she said.
Ms Pavey said the investment would help keep communities connected and would boost economic and social development in the bush.
"Regional councils maintain more than 1800 timber bridges across NSW, some of which are more than 80-years-old and reaching the end of their life," she said.
"We promised to help councils replace hundreds of those bridges with structures that are safer and more resilient to natural disasters like bushfire - and now we're delivering on that commitment.
"This unprecedented funding commitment to repair NSW's worst timber bridges will increase resilience of bridge stock across the state and deliver a safe and modern road network for generations to come."
Applications under Round 1 of the Program will close on 24 September 2020, with successful projects announced in late 2020.
Transport for NSW will soon hold discussions with councils to walk through the program guidelines, prioritisation framework and application process.
