Councils continue to mop up and assess after huge storm earlier this month, with good news that the Wallaga Lake boardwalk will be rebuilt, as will the Tyrone Bridge after January’s flooding.
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Eurobodalla Council meanwhile can confirm the cost of repairs for the landslip on Centenary Drive at Narooma between Mill Bay and the Apex boat ramp will be included in its natural disaster funding claim to the NSW Government.
Preliminary investigations and planning are underway, including work with Marine Parks Authority around work permits, but realistically it will be a few months before repair work starts, a council spokesperson said.
The road remains closed and access to Apex Park boat ramp is via Dalmeny Drive, while access to Mill Bay is from the highway. Mill Bay boardwalk is open.
Work continues on the Riverside Drive roundabout and is progressing well after the flood delays earlier this month, and council expects the work to be finished during August.
Another victim of the East Coast Low earlier this month was the Wallaga Lake boardwalk.
Bega Valley Shire Council is now working at restoring the timber structure using the natural disaster recovery funds available through the NSW Government.
Richard Cunningham, council’s recreation assets coordinator said the total cost is likely to be significant. “The boardwalk came away in large sections, and I think much of it can be salvaged and used again, reducing the replacement cost.” Mr Cunningham said.
On a normal day, water in the mouth of Wallaga Lake would have gently lapped around sections of the boardwalks timber pylons, but the king tides and storm surge of June 4 and 5 saw large pieces lifted free and washed away.
In a funny twist of fate, the boardwalk’s destruction has made it more widely known in the Shire. Starting in the car park off Wallaga Street at Wallaga Lake Heights, the 180 metre track skirts the south-eastern shores of the Lake, taking walkers through to Murunna Point.
The area holds great significance to the local Aboriginal community who have been involved in the development of the boardwalk over the years.
“It’s a place that Council and the community are keen to protect and respect,” Mr Cunningham said. “Neighbours of the boardwalk have also been very helpful with offers of assistance.”
Council has also invested a lot of time and resources into weed control in that area, and is keen to see it back at its best as soon as possible.
“As part of the rebuild, council staff will be reviewing what worked with the old design and what could be improved,” Mr Cunningham said.
More updates to come, as staff from Bega Valley Shire and Eurobodalla councils continue to respond to the extraordinary weather events of June.
Damage from January’s flood is still impacting the region and it was announced last week by State Member Andrew Constance that funding had been secured to replace the Tyrone bridge.
Eurobodalla Shire Council will receive $1.25 million NSW Government funding as part of Round Two of Fixing Country Roads, an initiative which removes freight pinch points in regional NSW.
Mr Constance said, a key project in the electorate has been successful in obtaining Fixing Country Roads Round Two funding.
“The Tyrone Bridge replacement in the Eurobodalla will improve access for agriculture, quarries and forestry. The new bridge, situated approximately 9kms west of Bodalla will be concrete and will be capable of handling higher mass vehicles. The new bridge will also have a higher deck level, which means that it is less likely to be closed in the event of flooding (allowing industry and locals to avoid a 20km detour).”
Round Two of Fixing Country Roads includes a $50 million investment in the upcoming 2016/17 State Budget, and is ‘on top’ of the $43 million commitment in Round One.
“Successful projects will better connect local and regional roads to state highways and key freight hubs, such as silos, saleyards, supermarket distribution centres, industrial parks and depots,” Mr Constance said.
Eurobodalla Mayor Lindsay Brown thanked Minister Constance and said, “This is a fantastic outcome for our region. The proposed new concrete bridge offers a greater load carrying capacity, significantly lower risk and it also reduces the level of flooding for the businesses and community who depend on this access for their daily activities. The Fixing Country Roads program demonstrates how well the NSW Government understands the infrastructure challenges faced in regional NSW, and how funding like this helps to drive the NSW economy and deliver jobs in regional areas like Eurobodalla.”