An interjector in the public gallery of last week's Bega Valley Shire Council meeting claimed to know the fate of the timber that was stolen from historic Pretty Point Bridge three years ago.
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The outburst arose during a speech on Pretty Point Bridge by Cr Robyn Bain following the moving of a motion by Cr Tony Allen, which proposed council continue to work with the community to “promote and research the possibility of putting the trusses back on the new bridge in a manner that does not interfere with the operation of the bridge and reflects the heritage of the bridge”.
Cr Bain said when someone stole timber from the trusses they had not only stolen from council, they had stolen from ratepayers.
“Council assets belong to the ratepayer and should be respected ... should not be stolen,” she said.
“If somebody out there knows ...,” she said, before being cut off by the interjector who asked if she would like to know who took them.
“I would love to know who took them,” she replied.
At that point the interjector named a company. But a second interjector quashed the claim, saying “that's just a rumour”.
The first interjector pressed on, claiming the stolen timber had been taken to Mallacoota and that this was known by council staff.
Despite the very public allegations, council told the Magnet it had reported the theft to police, and followed it up with a media release and Facebook post asking anyone with information to contact police.
It was council’s understanding no information had been reported to police.
During the council debate, Cr Allen said it was time for everyone to “get over” any ill-feeling and move forward, while stating council could not afford to do anything other than build a new bridge.
Cr Jo Dodds hoped that with “funding and goodwill from other levels of government”, it may at possible to get the trusses reinstated.
She had attended a public meeting over the trusses in Wyndham in July and had witnessed the “frayed tempers” and felt their “white-hot passion, full frontal”.
She commended council for “stepping back from a decision” [to not reinstate the trusses] to a point where it could now start to collaborate with the community.
Cr Mitch Nadin said council had “got it wrong” and admitted its mistake, adding that its consultation with the community should have been better.
Cr Allen's motion received unanimous support.
