Every year council spends millions of dollars on capital works around the shire, some of it unnoticed by anyone except those directly involved or living nearby.
In the current financial year 2021/22, council has a huge $88.6m capital program and so we decided to take a closer look at some of these projects to see what was involved and what the timelines might be.
We have chosen five different projects from around the shire which we will be looking at over the next couple of weeks. In this first of our series - Taking a closer look - we're homing in on the Yowaka Bridge.
Although the Yowaka Bridge is tucked away along Nethercote Road and the road is unsealed on one side of the bridge, the link provides an important alternative route in the case of the the Princes Highway being closed between Eden and the Nethercote Road turn off on the Princes Highway.
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The route gained notoriety in March 2019, when a serious two-vehicle crash in wet weather closed the Princes Highway for several hours between Eden and Pambula. Traffic was diverted onto Nethercote Road but heavy rain made the road dangerous for two-wheel drive vehicles and also caused significant damage to the unsealed pavement.
The bridge itself then became the focus of attention in March 2021 during an extreme wet weather event.
A raging torrent was dangerously close to the top of the bridge but as the rain increased the torrent was too much and the road on the southern approach was ripped away leaving the bridge connected to Nethercote Road only on the northern side.
The bridge itself was upgraded in financial year 2017/18. It was a partial replacement and included an upgrade of the existing timber pier and western abutment to a reinforced concrete structure.
However, the timber decking covered by bitumen remained.
The project involves the replacement of the existing deteriorating timber deck with a modern concrete equivalent to improve carrying capacity.
- Bega Valley Shire Council
The upgrades were considered particularly important given the route's role as an alternative route in the event of the Princes Highway being closed between Eden and the Nethercote Road intersection on the highway.
Now $400,000 from the NSW Government's Fixing Country Bridges Round 1 grant program plus $50,000 from council has been allocated to work on the bridge.
Council said the project involves the replacement of the existing deteriorating timber deck with a modern concrete equivalent to improve carrying capacity.
When the bridge funding was discussed in council, a question was asked as to whether any heritage issues existed and councillors were told there were none.
Immediately after the March floods there was work carried out to reconnect the bridge to the road and council said this was funded under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRAFA) as emergency works.
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"Recent works undertaken at the bridge, which included the approach sealing, is also funded as restoration work under DRFA," council said.
"The project is still in the pre-construction planning phase. The site survey has been completed, detailed design is nearing completion," council said.
"No structural change will occur to the bridge abutments. The southern abutment requires scour protection works due to minor undermining. This will involve applying shotcrete to the undermined foundation," council said.
A review of environmental factors (REF) was performed for the site which identified the requirement to apply for a Part-7 Fisheries Permit. This was approved and issued to council prior to commencement of works.
This permit is for activities involving dredging and reclamation work and for activities obstructing fish passage.
The REF did not identify any other significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed works.
"It is expected the project will be completed by towards the end of this financial year," council said.
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Denise Dion
Regional daily news journalist on the Far South Coast of NSW. Contact me on 0418 213 780 or at denise.dion@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Regional daily news journalist on the Far South Coast of NSW. Contact me on 0418 213 780 or at denise.dion@austcommunitymedia.com.au
