(Photo: SBRC)
February 27, 2015
The South Burnett Regional Council missed out on funding from the Federal Government for bridge works in the first round of funding from the new $300 million Bridges Renewal Program, but is hopeful of getting support in later rounds.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss announced on Friday that 17 bridges across Queensland would be upgraded.
$53.36 million of the cost would be covered from the Federal Government with the rest matched dollar-for-dollar by the funding recipients.
Somerset Regional Council received funding for three bridge projects:
- Taylors Bridge over Cressbrook Creek on Esk-Crows Nest Road, Biarra – $883,000
- Jenkinsons Bridge over Sandy Creek on McCauleys Lane – $477,000
- Scrubby Creek Bridge, Villeneuve Road, Villeneuve – $635,000
The State Government received just over $47 million for six bridge projects.
Other councils to receive funding were Banana, Brisbane, Lockyer Valley, Logan City, Mareeba, Murweh and Southern Downs.
South Burnett councillor Damien Tessmann, who has the portfolio for roads, said only bridges that were “shovel ready” were eligible for funding.
And it was also a very competitive process.
“There are 30,000 bridges across the country in the same boat as us,” Cr Tessmann said.
“But I am hopeful that we will be in a position to apply for funding for a project such as Campbells Bridge. It is in a really high-value farming area but it is complicated because it is a long bridge built over a very deep weir.
“We will keep chasing these avenues of funding.”
