Local federal government members have now joined local state representatives and the councils of the two local government areas to pursue the Green Route for a new Yarrawonga Mulwala replacement bridge.
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Federal Government Minister of the Environment Sussan Ley said she first came across the bridge talk over a decade ago.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen the vast majority of people, including the two councils, on the same page,” Ms Ley, who is also Member for Farrer, told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“There was a lot of pressure from the Grey Route side. I believe with post elections (state and local governments) there’s been a fresh look and hopefully our ministers from both states can now work towards the Green Route.
“It makes absolute common sense to concentrate on the Green Route and allow foreshore master plans on both sides of Lake Mulwala to proceed.”
Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum said it is apparent that VicRoads has become the “administrative arm of the Victorian Government as the leading agent in this project”.
“It’s important they acknowledge the wishes of both of these communities who voted overwhelmingly in support of the Green Route,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“Seventy per cent of people voting on any issue is a thunderous vote of support.
“Hopefully VicRoads can see sense and move towards the Green Route selection for a much-needed new bridge linking Yarrawonga and Mulwala.”
The need for increasingly quick action was highlighted by Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica. He told the Yarrawonga Chronicle last week the new replacement bridge can’t be built quick enough.
Cr Mustica said that when the Yarrawonga Weir Bridge is closed next year the resulting increase of vehicles, in particular heavy vehicles on the near 100-year-old traffic bridge, is very concerning.
”That bridge was built to only handle much lighter vehicles,” Cr Mustica said.
“One local contractor I know will alone have a B-Double trucks crossing every 20 minutes and they will also be travelling down Belmore Street.
“This is just one contractor!
“I have had truck drivers tell me they believe the bridge is sinking and it vibrates when they cross it. It’s a real worry.”
Moira Shire CEO Mark Henderson also shared his concerns saying at the moment the only approved arterial route these heavy vehicles can travel along is Belmore Street yet council is still yet to see any design concepts from the Victorian Road Authority for alternate routes.
“We will have more trucks crossing the bridge bringing sand from Savernake to Benalla’s new (LS Precast) concrete plant.
“There is also Thales bringing munitions across, and it may not be this year, but when we get a big grain harvest there will a massive throughput of trucks going to the Benalla Road grain depot and all this is down Belmore Street.
“This is a sub-standard standard bridge that wasn’t built for this traffic.”
Mr Henderson also confirmed that council has not been informed of the exact date the weir bridge will be closed in 2020.
State Member for Albury Justin Clancy was unable to attend last Friday due to a prior commitment. But when he was in Yarrawonga Mulwala on August 23, the significance of the Yarrawonga and Mulwala communities in respect of the preferred route for a new Yarrawonga Mulwala Traffic Bridge was highlighted to him, who in turn passed the message onto the NSW Minister for Regional Roads and Transport.
“He’s been talking with the Roads Minister in Sydney and conveyed what the communities want and that’s pretty important,” Chair Green Route Community Group Chairman John Lawless said at the time.
An approximate 70% preference for the Green Route over Lake Mulwala alongside the railway line rather than the Grey Route (closer to the existing traffic bridge going along Irvine Parade) has been expressed by the communities of the twin towns.
Mr Clancy said it’s very important to recognize the Mulwala Yarrawonga community.
“In that sense I recognize there are different views but the response given in the plebiscite and survey was mainly for the Green Route which I’ve conveyed to the Regional Transport Minister (Paul Toole) in Sydney - to make him aware,” Mr Clancy said at the time.
“I feel now we need to ensure both state governments and local governments work together to move the project forward.”
Mr Clancy said Roads and Maritime Services NSW is working on the impact of a Green Route in terms of approaches with other local roads.
“We have to allow that process to take place,” he said. “Irrespective of what route will be decided, it will take some time.”
That original estimate is six months, as conveyed by the Yarrawonga Chronicle to our readers on August 28.
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