[Bermagui Community] Bermagui Community Forum Update 20 Jan 2022

[Bermagui Community Forum]

The latest news from the Bermagui Community Forum

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Bermagui Community Forum Update
In this issue

.#PoolC (#Harbour) uttagee Bridge Advisory Group Update (#Cuttagee)
. New Council Elected (#Councillors)
. C (#Boat) ouncil Accountability (#Accountability)
. New Shared Pathway Improvements (#Bike)
. Bega By-election Date Decided (#Election)
. B (#Election) oil Your Water (#Boil)
Management Committee

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

Council has just published minutes of the first two meetings of the Cuttagee Bridge Advisory Group held on 1 November 2021 and 13 December 2021. The meetings are chaired by Ian Macfarlane, Council Director Assets & Operations. Six community members attended the December meeting. A link to the December minutes is here (https://facebook.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9030b531e962ad02c68a923c8&id=f89b90feb2&e=34e977e1dc) .

A link to all documents including Heritage Assessment, Environmental Review and Structural Report issued to the Group is on the Council website (https://facebook.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9030b531e962ad02c68a923c8&id=ba99d00cb1&e=34e977e1dc) .

Heritage Aspects of Bridge
The Advisory Group’s primary role is to identify specific heritage aspects of the current structure that are important to the group. These have been detailed to date as:
- Timber structure: pylons, kerb, deck, rails
- Single lane
- The need to slow down
- Aesthetics and beauty
- Acoustics: the sound of vehicles driving across the bridge.

The bridge should also be considered in the context as part of a series of bridges in the area. It represents a period in our colonial history.

Sensitive signage advising of heritage, as well as the need to slow down and give way should be considered.

Structural Assessment
Council received an independent structural assessment of the Bridge in late November 2021 which found the structure to be in an unsatisfactory condition. The load limit was immediately reduced to 10 tonne and speed limit for heavy vehicles to 5km per hour. At least two of the timber girders supporting one span at the southern end require emergency repair work.

Council have advised that the Bridge will be closed from 9am to 3pm on Monday 24 January, Tuesday, 25 January, Thursday 27 January and Friday 28 January for these emergency repair works.

Council Election Issue
The Advisory Group noted that Cuttagee Bridge was a significant Council election issue across the region (not just Bermagui and Tathra), with some candidates declaring they will rescind the resolution to replace the Bridge. It was noted however, that it is not possible to rescind the resolution, and instead a new resolution would need to be made by Council.

Report to Council
It is anticipated that a report will go to Council  meeting on 16 March, 2022 presenting the consolidated group’s view on the heritage aspects of the Bridge, that should in the Group opinion, be retained or referenced where possible.

Ken Robinson and Ken Murtagh from Advisory Group with Ian Macfarlane (blue hat) inspecting girders under the Bridge.

Congratulations to the nine councillors that have been elected to the Bega Valley Shire Council.

Councillors (L to R) Tony Allen, Joy Robin, Cathy Griff, Karen Wright, Russell Fitzpatrick, Mitch Nadin, Liz Seckold, Helen O’Neil and David Porter.

Russell Fitzpatrick has been re-elected as Mayor and Liz Seckold re-elected as Deputy Mayor.

Councillors Robin, Wright, O’Neil and Porter are serving their first terms as Councillors. Helen O’Neil is the first Councillor to be elected from the Bermagui area for many years. Helen received the most votes of all candidates at the election.

As the new Bega Valley Council begins its term, the Bermagui Community Forum believes that there is an opportunity to improve the quality and substance of Council’s communication with the Bega Valley community through the adoption of a number of principles. These principles have been heavily drawn from a similar set of principles promoted by community forum group A Better Eurobodalla.

We would appreciate any community comments on these principles to bermaguiforum at gmail.com (mailto:bermaguiforum at gmail.com) by Monday 7 February.

These recommended principles should be applied in all papers put forward to Council meetings and in all communications of major decisions to the community.

1. Consult broadly, in an open and meaningful way so that Local government:
* Actively seeks and takes account of community views, using this feedback to inform next steps and decisions
* Fully discloses what consultation has been carried out, what local feedback revealed and how this has influenced decisions and actions


2. Obtain and apply relevant and expert advice that is:
* Technically accurate, meeting recognised professional standards
* Acknowledges any conflict of interest and how it was resolved
* Relied upon to inform evidence-based best practice decisions
* Disclosed to the community in an accessible format and timely manner including how this advice influenced the final decision / action


3. Communicate major decisions in a transparent, concise and timely manner so that people can easily understand:
* What decisions have been made and who they will affect
* Who was responsible for making decisions and how decisions were reached
* What benefits the decisions are intended to achieve
* Any potential social, economic and environmental impacts
* Associated costs and ongoing resource commitments
* Timelines and steps for implementing decisions
* How the community will be kept up to date on progress through timely and comprehensive reporting

The new shared path constructed by BVSC around Apex Park, Bermagui is being driven on by cars. This is just not in the spirit of good community behaviour.

Vehicles are now fairly regularly using the shared path built for pedestrians and cyclists around Apex Park and along Campbell Cove as shown by these photos.
Council have been requested to install collapsible vehicle exclusion posts, as have been recently installed by council at the Bruce Steer Pool, so that only emergency and limited authorised vehicle access is permitted.

No side cut to the road has yet been constructed at the eastern end of the shared path.

Council has been requested to construct this to permit easier access and exit from the shared path for bikes, scooters, mobility frames and wheel chairs wishing to cross Lamont St towards the bus shelter. Additionally, a pedestrian refuge island in this heavily trafficked section of the road is recommended and would be greatly appreciated.

Painted direction arrows encouraging pedestrians and bike riders to keep left are also needed along all shared paths in Bermagui.

The by-election for the state Seat of Bega has been set down for Saturday 12 February. There is likely to be early voting but this detail is not yet available.

At the present time there are 3 declared candidate for the by-election:
* Peter Haggar for The Greens
* Dr Michael Holland for Labor
* Dr Fiona Kotvojs for Liberal

The Bermagui Community Forum will request a statement from each of the candidates and these will be included in a future newsletter.

Council have advised that recent heavy rain and an influx of visitors to the Bega Valley Shire have led to a boil water notice being given to customers connected to the Brogo-Bermagui water supply.

Towns and localities affected are Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Beauty Point, Fairhaven, Wallaga Lake, Wallaga Lake Heights, Wallaga Lake Koori Village and Akolele, as well as trunk main customers in these areas.

All water for drinking, food preparation, the cleaning of teeth and ice-making should be boiled before use. Boiled water can be cooled and stored in a clean container with a lid and refrigerated.

Council will advise residents through local media, Council's website and Facebook page when the boil water notice is lifted.
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Bermagui Community Forum . 30 O'Connells Point Rd . Wallaga Lake, NSW 2546 . Australia

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