Council is currently inviting the Mulwala community to have their say on the preferred route of the new Yarrawonga - Mulwala Bridge.
Whilst this is a voluntary process, Council strongly encourages your participation in order for Council to gain your views, on your preferred route for this critical future project.
A new bridge is required over Lake Mulwala to replace the existing bridge. The Victorian State Government are responsible for the delivery of this critical project, and over the past ten or so years, the initial planning identified up to six different routes.
The final two routes were identified as the Green and the Grey route, as shown in the survey attachment. The position of the two State Governments is that the Grey route is to be delivered. The former Corowa Shire (now Federation Council after the merger with Urana Shire in 2016) also favoured the Grey route.
Moira Shire Council conducted a plebiscite of their community in 2017, in the Yarrawonga and Tungamah areas, which resulted in strong support for the Green route. They have endorsed this as their Council’s preferred route, and subsequently asked Federation Council to reconsider the support of the Grey Route in favour of the Green route. Federation Council considered this request, and resolved at its September 2018 Council meeting to survey those on the electoral role in the Mulwala postcode, to gauge community opinion. Council will then receive a report on the survey outcomes and consider their position on their preferred route.
The survey is a great chance for the local community to have their say and assist Federation Council in arriving at a position as to a preferred route.
The NSW State Government’s responsible agency, Roads and Maritime Services, have advised that the existing bridge will not be retained following completion of a new structure, on whichever route is chosen. Council are aware that there is some strong community sentiment and attachment to the old bridge, but Council is not in a position to take on the future replacement funding and maintenance of this bridge into the future. Responsibility for its maintenance and replacement currently lies with the two State Governments, with likely Federal Government assistance for the replacement bridge.
Federation Council now invite you to vote on your preferred route by completing survey documentation and returning this in the reply paid envelope provided to you by 12 June 2019. Your details are being kept strictly confidential and all return copies will be managed through independent company – Computershare.