Exciting news for the Wyndham community unveiled itself on August 17, as member for Bega Andrew Constance announced $100,000 towards the Pretty Point Bridge project.
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The Wyndham Progress Association and Pretty Point Bridge Action Group were thrilled to hear the project had successfully been allocated funds through the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage’s heritage near me grant.
The Wyndham Progress Association and Bega Valley Shire Council applied for the grant earlier this year.
“What we heard loud and clear was that the community wanted to make sure this piece of heritage was kept in Wyndham and hopefully at some point in the future put back onto the bridge,” Mayor Kristy McBain said.
“What this also shows is when the community and council work together it can really leverage that goodwill and get something really appropriate to the community.”
The 1896 Allan Truss bridge was one of 105 constructed in NSW, built to withstand a maximum load of 20 tonne.
The original bridge over the Mataganah River was dismantled in 2014 to make way for “a high strength modern design”.
The 118-year-old grey box timber trusses had since been stored at a council depot in Bega as funding became an issue to have the timber re-purposed to obtain its history.
“The Wyndham Progress Association and the Pretty Point Bridge Action Group – who were the ones driving this were a combined group of 22 people who were coming to meetings once a week for six months to get this happening, it was remarkable,” Bob Hunt of Wyndham Progress Association said.
“The application was so well supported also, it was quite easy to document because of all the information people had on it. It is so clearly loved.”
Once complete, The Pretty Point Bridge is expected to become a new tourist destination generating increased economic activity in Wyndham.
“It is going to be great for tourism, people can stop and get out of their cars, walk around the bridge and have a look. It will attract people through Wyndham too,” Tess McPeake of Wyndham Progress Association said.