After it was damaged during the Black Summer Bushfires, work is progressing on the rebuild of the Thurra River Bridge.
However, questions are being raised as to when the bridge will be reopened.Local MP, Tim Bull, is seeking confirmation both the bridge and the adjacent Thurra River campground will be open for the summer school holidays.
“It is an absolute disgrace that this structure has taken five years to rebuild and the incompetence that has been shown is staggering, after the then Parks Victoria CEO, said four years ago it was a ‘project of high importance,'” Mr Bull said.
“On a follow up question, he said the reason it was a priority was to restore access to ‘the island’. “Trouble is there is no island, it is a bridge over a river to a campground, so in reality it was not a project of high importance at all as they did not know the first
thing about it.
“Those familiar with the area know this bridge provides access to the Thurra River campground, the second biggest in the area and important to the economy of the Cann River community, as this is where campers purchase their bait, fuel
and supplies.
“For five years this community, which was also heavily bushfire impacted, has not had the benefit of this income for any of the yearly school holiday periods.
“The campground itself still has vehicles and debris from the fire strewn across the landscape as there has been no access to retrieve these items since the fire.
“This will also need to be cleared up and the basic camp area infrastructure reinstated.
“The bridge also provides access to the iconic Point Hicks Lighthouse, which was the first part of the Australian mainland sighted by Captain Cook, so is an important part of our colonial history,”
Mr Bull said.
Point Hicks Lighthouse investigations have been completed on the first concrete tower constructed in Victoria and one of the tallest light towers in Australia.
The lighthouse works
will include repair and upgrades to:
– Major metal corrosion problems
– Timber rot
– Corroding stonework
– Structural problems
– Point Hicks Lightstation Precinct
This project aims to upgrade facilities across the Point Hicks Lightstation precinct, which includes the heritage Lightstation buildings and visitor accommodation
