'Community can rest assured': RFS respond to 10-tonne load limit imposed on Cuttagee Bridge

Bega Valley Shire Council announced on Friday, December 3, that the load limit will come into effect on Monday December 6, following an independent structural assessment.

RFS district coordinator for the Far South Coast Daniel Osborne said the RFS had put measures in place following the announcement to ensure those heavier tankers aren't driven across the bridge.

"If I was going to say anything it might give us some inconvenience rather than inhibit our ability to respond."

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He said there were still two fire appliances located in Bermagui that could cross that bridge because they do no exceed the imposed load limit.

"Our medium and smaller appliances are less than 10 tonne so they won't be affected.

"There's still two fire appliances in Bermagui that could cross that bridge and can carry substantial water supplies. One of them is a category seven which is our medium tanker and they're very versatile," he said.

In Tanja, south of the bridge, the RFS have a category nine and category seven tanker which are small and medium appliances.

"The only trucks we can't bring across Cuttagee are large heavy tankers which carry 3500L of water."

Mr Osborne wanted to tell the community they can "rest assured" as the RFS, "don't believe that this load limit will have an adverse affect on our ability to respond to and deal with fires in the area in a timely fashion".

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He mentioned the brigades all around the various district would be available to support those communities between Tathra and Bermagui if need be.

"Obviously Tathra and Bermagui are the local brigades there but we've got the Cobargo, Tanja and the Jellat brigades in close proximity that could also support as needed."

Tathra has a heavy category one tanker as well as a category nine tanker.

"There are lots of resources in that area and there are still a lot of ability for us to respond and get the resources to people if they need it," Mr Osborne said.

When asked whether the RFS have taken a position on the future of the bridge and whether or not a concrete bridge would better support their access to those smaller communities scattered between Tathra and Bermagui, Mr Osborne said the matter was political in nature and not for him to make comment on.

"The bridge is a matter for council to deal with, but I guess we would support any measures that would increase the resilience of any road network against natural disaster," he said.