Funding for Tyrone Bridge replacement

Council has secured $1.25 million in Australian Government funding towards the replacement of Tyrone Bridge, a one-lane timber bridge located nine kilometres west of Bodalla.

The funding was announced by Member for Eden-Monaro Peter Hendy on 18 January and Eurobodalla Mayor Lindsay Brown says the funding is most welcome.

‘We intend to replace the timber bridge with a new concrete structure at a cost of $2.5 million and this represents half the funding we need,’ Clr Brown said.

‘Council applied to the NSW Government last year for the remaining $1.25 million required to build the new bridge, and Dr Hendy’s announcement this week will no doubt strengthen our case for state funding.’

Council secured a similar joint funding arrangement to replace Candalagan Bridge in Broulee, currently under construction at a cost of $2.5 million.

Mayor Brown says Tyrone Bridge supports 250 vehicle movements per day and provides vital transport links to Eurobodalla’s dairy farms, quarries and forestry, as well as residences around Nerrigundah and Belowra.

‘Milk, agricultural produce, forestry and quarry products from this area feed our local and Sydney markets and are vital to Eurobodalla’s economic prosperity,’ he said.

‘The new concrete bridge will be built at a higher level so that the area isn’t cut off as often during floods. It will also have a higher load capacity, bringing safer access in bad weather for the school buses, our emergency services, for residents, and particularly our dairy industry that relies on daily milk collection.’

Local businesses supported Council’s funding applications with letters highlighting the importance of a bridge with sufficient load capacity and built at a height that remains accessible during floods.

The new bridge will be one metre wider than the existing structure at 5.5 metres and 86 metres in length.

Council’s application for matching funding from the NSW Government under its Fixing Country Roads program is currently being assessed.