[Bermagui Community] Bermagui Community Forum Update - Cuttagee Bridge Motion Defeated

[Bermagui Community Forum]

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Bermagui Community Forum Update
In this issue

.#PoolC (#Harbour) uttagee Bridge M (#Cuttagee) otion Failed at Council (#Cuttagee)
. Councillor Promises Versus Reality (#Councillors)

Management Committee

Coordinator:                       Geoff Steel (mailto:geoffsteel1 at bigpond.com)
Deputy Coordinator:      Narelle Myers
Phil Coates
Fergus McWhirter
David Monro
Bill Southwood

So Near and Yet So Far

The new Council met on Wednesday to reconsider the future of Cuttagee Bridge with very disappointing results.

During the last term of Council it voted in March 2021 to demolish Cuttagee Bridge and replace it with a two-lane concrete structure. Councillor Griff did not support this decision. There was no broad community consultation prior to this decision. This policy sparked strong community opposition expressed in petitions, surveys, public meetings and other protests and media reporting, up to and including the Council election campaign. This project did not go ahead because it did not meet a couple of key criteria of the related State Government grant awarded for this work; namely heritage listed bridges were excluded and the new bridge couldn’t be completed within the two year time limit.

Prior to the Council election in December six subsequently elected Councillors indicated their support for saving the Cuttagee Bridge; being Councillors Seckold, Wright, Griff, Robin, Porter and O’Neil. The other three Councillors did not indicate their support on this issue; being Councillors Fitzpatrick, Allen and Nadin.

Recent repair works on the Bridge completed in last week of January cost approximately $50k, to lift the load limit to 15 tonne.

The new Council met on Wednesday, 9 February to consider a motion put forward by Councillor Helen O’Neil to seek State Government funding for a feasibility study to explore an option of retaining a single lane timber or hybrid bridge at Cuttagee sympathetic to the heritage and cultural values at that site. The motion was open and flexible to allow time to lobby State Government for a change in grant criteria away from concrete only constructions, and identify other possible heritage or tourism related grants.

Unfortunately the motion was defeated 5 votes to 4. Councillors O’Neil, Griff, Robin and Porter voted in favour, but unfortunately Councillors Seckold and Wright voted against. Councillor Wright appeared to actually vote against the motion because she wanted to put forward her own motion. Her motion largely involved supporting a single lane hybrid bridge (with concrete substructure and timber superstructure), which was also an option within Councillor O’Neil’s motion. Councillor Wright’s motion was also defeated 5 votes to 4, with Councillors O’Neil, Griff, Robin and Wright voting in favour, but Councillor Porter this time voted against because he thought the process was too rushed to consider a brand new motion.

Other motions were also put by Mayor Fitzpatrick and Councillor Porter which were also defeated. Mayor Fitzpatrick motion continued to propose a demolition of the Bridge and a two-lane concrete replacement. Councillor Seckold voted with the Mayor on all motions and didn’t speak on any motion. Councillors Allen and Nadin also voted with the Mayor on all motions. Councillor Porter proposed a motion to defer a Council decision until a full Council workshop was held to reconsider all options.

This outcome now means that the only Council motion still in the minutes is the March 2021 decision to demolish Cuttagee Bridge and replace it with a two-lane concrete bridge. Council is hopeful of a new round of Fixing Country Bridges grants will become available later in 2022. To apply for these grants Council would currently have to remove the heritage listing of the Bridge.

It would seem there is scope for compromise between several of the Councillors which may provide an opportunity for a future Cuttagee Bridge that is single lane and a hybrid construction. This at least is preferrable to a two-lane concrete bridge. Councillors O’Neil, Griff, Robin, Porter and Wright appeared all to at least be in favour of a single lane Bridge of a hybrid construction.

Full Council minutes can be accessed at the Council website (https://facebook.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9030b531e962ad02c68a923c8&id=a1896c957a&e=34e977e1dc) .

The disappointing outcome of Wednesday's Council meeting on the Cuttagee Bridge motion has brought into stark reality the differences between what Councillors promised during the Council election campaign and what they actually voted for. The following shows what each Councillor promised to the community and how they voted.

The following specific question was asked of candidates by the Save Cuttagee Bridge campaign.

If elected to the BVSC, will you use your position as Shire Councillor to Save Cuttagee Bridge by:

1.​Voting to remove the Council’s existing motion that commits it to a two-lane concrete replacement in order to avoid any impression that the consultation process is less than genuine?

Councillor Griff promise - YES, I am happy to try. The success depends entirely on the composition of councillors. Often I’ve found it profitable to seek change via the staff but in any case certainly will raise a new motion.
Councillor Griff voted - Yes

Councillor O’Neil promise - Yes. The advisory body is a potentially good forum for consultation but will be hampered unless Council withdraws its current support for the two-lane concrete structure.
Councillor O'Neil voted - Yes

Councillor Porter promise - I pledge to not only vote against a two lane concrete bridge but to lobby my fellow councillors to get their support.
Councillor Porter voted - Yes

Councillor Robin promise - I would support, saving the Cuttagee Bridge as I do feel it is a part of our history. I feel going forward as these bridges get fewer and fewer they can become a real attraction for the area
Councillor Robin Voted - Yes

Councillor Seckold promise - Yes
Councillor Seckold voted - No

Councillor Wright promise - I would aim to support this.
Councillor Wright voted - No

Councillors Fitzpatrick, Nadin and Allen did not respond to the original survey.
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