Council continues to advocate for new Yarrawonga/Mulwala Bridge

Published on 20 March 2020

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Federation Council continues to take another step forward in their advocacy efforts towards a new bridge for Yarrawonga/Mulwala. 

Mayor Pat Bourke along with Cr Andrew Kennedy and General Manager Adrian Butler, travelled to Sydney in early March to attend a meeting with the Honourable Paul Toole, MP, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Member for Bathurst, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and the Deputy Leader of The Nationals.  

The meeting was arranged by local MP, State Member for Albury and Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Justin Clancy who also attended.  Mr Clancy had also arranged for a meeting with Mr Toole and the local deputation of the Green Route committee, Mr Robert Purtle OAM and Mr John Lawless and this meeting occurred also.  

Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said Council were very pleased that local member, Justin Clancy, was able to arrange this meeting, and felt it was a very productive meeting. 

"Council was able to use the time to update the Minister, on the latest events, including Federation resolving to support the Green Route Alignment, based on the community survey of the Mulwala postcode strongly favouring this option," he said.

"Council has also had meetings with Senior Regional Transport for NSW staff on this project.   Council understands that Transport for NSW, as a result of the survey results and Federation Councils to support the Green Alignment, are now undertaking more detailed studies on the Green Route proposal for the NSW side.  This is expected over the next few months." 

Council has also had recent meetings with the Honourable Susan Ley MP, local Federal Member for Farrer, Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Mr Michael McCormack, the Federal Member for Riverina, leader of the National Party, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Infrastructure,Transport and Regional Development; and the Honourable Damian Drum MP, Member for Nicholls, Chief Nationals Whip.  

Mayor Bourke said these meetings were also very productive as Council outlined the need to fast-track the design work on the new bridge.
"An infrastructure project of this size would be reasonably expected to have a healthy Federal funding component, to assist the States, so we were pleased with the response we received from these meetings," he said.
"It is our understanding that the Federal Government is now only awaiting the States to further progress this project before they can then consider it in a Federal Government infrastructure funding scheme. The planned closure of the Weir Bridge at the end of June 2020 will only further exacerbate traffic issues in the area, and make it even more critical that the project continues to be progressed in earnest."
It is understood that Federation Council will continue to also liaise with its Victorian counterpart, Moira Shire, as both Councils continue to work with their respective State Governments to bring this project to fruition.

 

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