March 31, 2014
A $1.6 million refurbishment of Glenmaggie Bridge was officially opened today by The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
Mr Chester said the original timber bridge had deteriorated in recent years and load limits had been reduced to 4 tonne.
Wellington Shire Council has rebuilt the bridge with a design sympathetic to the original 1927 timber trusses using modern materials. The Federal Government has provided the total project cost of $1.6 million from its Roads to Recovery program.
Mr Chester said the new bridge was a great asset to the local community and would serve the region well into the future.
Apart from ensuring Gippsland’s iconic entity is retained, the refurbished bridge is an alternative bridge for local and visitors,” Mr Chester said.
Mr Chester said the Coalition Government had made it very clear that it intended to be an “infrastructure government” and build the infrastructure required to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
“We understand that if we work with other levels of government we can achieve some very significant outcomes for the economy and also the wellbeing of our community,” Mr Chester said.
“The state of roads in Gippsland is critical to the social life of our communities and for the economic prosperity of our region.
“I am delighted the Federal Government has been able to provide funding for this important bridge, but also to continue to support Wellington Shire Council in its massive task of road maintenance across the Shire.”
Mr Chester said the Federal Government would provide $3 million to Wellington Shire Council in the current financial year through its Roads to Recovery Program.