AN old timber bridge on the Tarana Road is set to be replaced under the NSW Government’s $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program which aims to better connect regional communities and increase resilience to natural disasters.
Bathurst Regional Council has listed replacing the Eusdale Creek Bridge as a priority and the $950,000 funding will allow the project to be fast-tracked.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the $950,000 investment in the Bathurst local government area to replace the Eusdale Creek Bridge means improved community connections to schools, towns and jobs, allowing easier movement of freight and delivering better outcomes for road safety.
“On top of easing the financial burden on councils, this program will create thousands of local jobs throughout regional communities at a time when they’re needed most,” Mr Toole said.
“I’m glad that in the Bathurst region district, we’re going to see this bridge replaced under this new round of funding because I know what a difference it will make to entire communities.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said round one of the program will see more than 400 ageing bridges replaced by safer, modern bridges that will better withstand events like floods and bushfires, and ease the burden of maintenance for local councils and ratepayers.
“Regional councils maintain more than 1,800 timber bridges across the state, and we’re delivering on our promise to help them replace ageing bridges,” he said.
Mr Toole said the NSW Government had accelerated funding for the program with more than $290 million shared across 54 councils to replace 424 bridges in round one.
“That’s hundreds of fast-tracked projects that will start across the state in the next 12 months, helping councils to create and support jobs, drive productivity and keep our regional communities connected,” Mr Toole said.
Successful applications are timber bridges, located on a council-managed road which are not a heritage or truss bridge and are a priority asset to council. A second round of the program will be offered later this year.