FOI REQUESTS STATES KIRWANS BRIDGE IS SAFE TO OPEN

Two prominent community organisations are leading the charge in advocating for urgent action on two of our region’s landmark heritage bridges – Kirwans Bridge and Chinamans Bridge. Both bridges have succumbed to varying levels of deterioration over the years with age and forces of nature playing a toll on their physical structure. The state of each of the two bridges have impacted our community significantly in different ways. Are our community’s collective voices in pleading for assistance falling on deaf ears at Local and State Government level?

Issue 526 of The Community Voice provided an update on Chinamans Bridge and in this issue our attention turns to the current state of play at Kirwans Bridge.

The following article has been contributed by the Open Kirwans Bridge Committee

The Open Kirwans Bridge Committee has been actively advocating for the residents of Kirwans Bridge, Nagambie and nearby towns, who have been affected by the closure of the historic bridge. Kirwans Bridge, an essential transportation link and crucial infrastructure in the region, has been a significant community concern for over eight months since the bridge was closed on Friday 14 October 2022 due to the 1.9m flood at that site.

The Open Kirwans Bridge Committee is an informal community group who focus on the urgent need for a transitional plan to reopen the bridge as soon as possible. The committee meets fortnightly and actively engages with the community, shire officers, councillors, as well as state and federal ministers.

A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Strathbogie Shire for a copy of the GMR Engineering assessments, dated 21 and 23 December 2022, has revealed that the shire received advice stating that the bridge was safe to open to vehicles.

The two engineering reports from GMR Engineering in Shepparton confirm ‘There are no apparent structural damages arising from the recent October

2022 Flood event. The existing structure is structurally sound and fit for purpose and can now be reopened to road traffic at the existing 20kph speed limit, 3-tonne load limit and 3m vehicle height limit.’

Page 3 of the final GMR Engineering report of 10 January 2023 has had this particular paragraph removed on instruction from the client/shire.

The two engineering reports from GMR Engineering in Shepparton confirm ‘There are no apparent structural damages arising from the recent October 2022 Flood event. The existing structure is structurally sound and fit for purpose and can now be reopened to road traffic at the existing 20kph speed limit, 3-tonne load limit and 3m vehicle height limit.’

Recently, several local residents and business owners met with Annabelle Cleeland, our local Victorian MP, at the Angling Club. Annabelle demonstrated her detailed knowledge of the dire situation, conflicting engineering reports, and outlined her plan to arrange meetings with appropriate state ministers, including the opposition, council representatives, and community representatives. Annabelle has been informed about the recent FOI information that has come to hand.

Another well-received activity of the committee was the recent support provided to residents in sending up to 100 letters to Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan, who serves as the Minister for Major Projects and Infrastructure. Many residents have also written personal letters expressing their concerns about ambulance delays, fire risks, and the distress associated with traveling the dangerous and busy back-road, which is shared with heavy vehicles, especially in challenging conditions such as thick dust, heavy fog and blinding rain.

Residents have voiced their protest to the Shire regarding the imposition of a 5-tonne load limit on the alternate roads, which have become the only way to travel to and from Nagambie. This arbitrary decision, which was impractical, was rescinded after protests. However, the road has already witnessed its first accident, resulting in a vehicle being written off in the second week of June.

The committee also plan to reach out to Ms Jaclyn Symes, in her capacity as the Upper House member for Northern Victoria, Attorney-General, and Minister for Emergency Services.

The Committee is pleased to have attracted the interest of AIan McLean, a veteran community campaigner and former Kirwans Bridge resident, who actively participated in the protests after the bridge was closed in 2001 and 2011. “After a briefing by the Committee, I was most surprised to hear that the Shire will not consider the bridge’s future until the outcome of an insurance claim,” Alan said last week.

“When was the bridge first insured? Which broker or underwriter took on the risk? Is it against flood, fire, vehicle damage or what? Is the claim related to last year’s floods? And if there is a claim payout, is the Shire obliged to use the return to pay for bridge maintenance?”, were just some of the questions

Alan asked.

“I also understand that the Shire took engineering advice in the week prior to Christmas that the bridge was perfectly safe to re-open. If that is correct, and that advice has been hidden, I can understand the mounting anger among the affected residents,” Alan said.

“Questions need to be asked about the lack of transparency on the council decision making processes. Were the councillors informed of the GMR Engineering report saying the bridge was safe to open?” he added.

Encouraged by the committee to view the Shire website’s display of the April Council meeting, Alan had another shock coming. “The Councillor questions during the meeting revealed how little they knew about the back road network of Reedy Lake Road and Weir Road. Council was advised that the proposed road upgrades don’t even guarantee a raising of any road above the levels completely submerged by flood water last year. How could they vote to spend up to $1.8 million based on that incomplete understanding?” he asked. “Where is the money coming from? Rate notices will be interesting.”

“I commend anyone who has written letters, attended any protest meeting, or directed any query to the Shire,” Alan added.

“People power has had two previous wins, and is needed once again.”