Progress for Wingham’s bridge feasibility project
Published on 07 March 2018
As the gateway to Wingham, the Cedar Party Creek Bridge is part of a regional road network that connects communities, providing an important freight route to support local industry. With the existing bridge nearing the end of its serviceable life, work commenced in September 2016 to investigate and assess options for the bridge’s replacement.
Since that time, MidCoast Council’s engineering team has conducted an extensive study to investigate replacement options for the bridge and identify possible constraints. Project recommendations for the replacement bridge were presented and accepted by Council in June 2017.
“The adopted route is through the current Wingham Memorial Swimming Pool site, changing the entry into Wingham’s CBD, so part of this initial phase has been to ensure Wingham’s heritage and what’s important to the local community is catered for,” said MidCoast Council’s Manager of Projects and Engineering, Rhett Pattison.
“We are continuing to review suitable options for the relocation of Wingham pool, with the site of the current Wingham Bowling Club being preferred at this stage”.
A $350,000 grant for the initial investigation and feasibility phase of the Cedar Party Creek Bridge replacement project was provided by the NSW Government through the Restart NSW Fixing Country Roads program.
This initial investigation and feasibility phase involved consultation with the local community, detailed site surveys and geotechnical investigations. A review of environmental factors is currently being finalised, with consideration for local flora, fauna – in particular, local bat colonies – and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Over the coming months, the project team will finalise investigation reports in preparation to tender for the detailed design.
“Once completed this will be a significant milestone, with feasibility studies and a design brief supporting Council’s application for construction funding,” Mr Pattison said. “This initial stage is key to seeing the replacement bridge come to fruition”.
Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead, said the bridge replacement is important for the continued growth of local industries in the Manning Valley.
“This project will improve efficiency and productivity for the local industry and the wider community,” Mr Bromhead said. “The NSW Government supports economic growth in our regional areas and is committed to building efficient freight transport networks to reduce costs for businesses.”
Mr Pattison said the initial phase of this project is scheduled for completion in May 2018.
“In anticipation of this completion, we’ve already submitted a grant application to the NSW Government for the detailed design and construction of the replacement bridge, and are hopeful of hearing if we are successful around June 2018,” Mr Pattison said.
If the grant application is successful, the next stage of the project will be to call tenders for the detailed design. This detailed design phase will be completed in the second half of this year, with the following construction phase due to take place from March 2019 through to May 2020. Along with construction of the bridge, the funding application also includes expenditure associated with the relocation and replacement of the existing Wingham pool on a like for like basis.
“While the grant funding is yet to be confirmed, we’re very mindful of minimising impacts on the local community. In our forward planning, the existing pool at Wingham would remain in place for the 2018/19 summer season, and the new swimming pool facility open for business for the 2019/20 summer season,” Mr Pattison said.
To stay updated as the Cedar Party Creek Bridge replacement project progresses, visit www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/cedarpartycreekbridge