[Bermagui Community] Bermagui Community Forum Update - 17 Mar 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 CAG Report to (#Cuttagee) Council (#Cuttagee)
. Councillor A (#Councillors) ccountability (#Cuttagee)
. Update on Bermagui Harbour Dredging (#Dredging)

Management Committee

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

The Cuttagee Bridge Community Advisory Group (CAG) was formed by Council in October 2021 to provide guidance to Council on how best to capture the heritage of Cuttagee Bridge in any proposed upgrade or replacement of the bridge.

A staff report was submitted to the Council meeting held on 16 March 2021 which included the terms of reference, minutes of meetings and observations from the Council Director of Assets and Operations Ian MacFarlane.

A Heritage Assessment Report was commissioned by Council from the heritage consulting firm Baird Australia which was also tabled.

The staff report observes "In the view of the CAG, the bridge’s main charm and community heritage value exists in its aesthetics, location and ‘point of difference’.  While no unanimous consensus was reached by group members, the more active participants were generally in favour of retention of the bridge in its current form and if that was impossible then it should be rebuilt in such a way that all identified aspects relevant to its heritage and aesthetic should be incorporated in any new structure.

The points below (in no ranked order) were consistent themes:
* The timber superstructure was more important aesthetically than the timber, concrete, and steel substructure
* The skeletal look of the current substructure is appealing
* Retention of a single lane bridge was preferred (traffic calming was cited as one of the main reasons)
* Lowering the speed limit on both bridge and surrounds (safety and ‘slow’ lifestyle were discussed)
* Maximum retention of timber elements where possible such as kerb, deck, handrails including kingposts and diamond top rail
* Aesthetic look and feel of all components need to be considered (lightly and sympathetically engineered)
* Mirroring the acoustics and the sound of vehicles driving across the timber
* Preserving its context as part of a series of timber bridges along a tourist route
* Providing appropriate signage advising of heritage and significance
* Sensitive use of any salvaged materials"

Members of the CAG who attended at least two meetings were: Ken Murtagh, Ken Robinson, Jenifer James, Paul Payten, Geoff Steel and Christine Bimson. The first five members listed also provided personal statements to Council on their views on the Report and the Bridge, which are attached to the report.

At the Council meeting of 16 March a motion was passed to receive and note the report.

The final recommendation to Council was:

"Once Council has determined its preferred replacement option it is recommended that a Project Steering Group is constituted with a remit other than to just advise on the heritage aspects. The group should comprise not only of interested community members but also subject matter experts in such fields as design, engineering, environment etc."

The Bermagui Community Forum does not support this approach. Council should consult with the community on the options for upgrade or replacement before making a decision. We do however support the establishment of the Project Steering Group and look forward to contributing to the work of the Group.

Progress on the Cuttagee Bridge upgrade or replacement will now hinge on the outcome of Council's attempts to obtain funding from State or Federal Government.

For more information please see the Council Agenda (https://facebook.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9030b531e962ad02c68a923c8&id=389092c4ba&e=34e977e1dc)
and Council Minutes (https://facebook.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9030b531e962ad02c68a923c8&id=91fb50655e&e=34e977e1dc)  item 9.1.

In our January newsletter we requested feedback from the community on a set of proposed principles under which the newly elected Council should consult with the community. There was general support from the community on these principles.

The Bermagui Community forum therefore calls on Council to apply the following principles to 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

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has advised that Bermagui Harbour dredging is planned to continue later in 2022.

TfNSW is inviting public feedback on the new Addendum Review of Environmental Factors, 2021 (AREF) which addresses a new approach to aspects of the Bermagui Harbour and Channel Dredging project and is seeking community feedback on the new AREF as part of project planning to ensure that it gives consideration to the local community’s needs.

The AREF will be on public display from Friday 4 March until Monday 4 April 2022. Two public information sessions will be held, where community members can come along and talk directly to the project team. These will be held at the Bermagui Community Centre Hall at the following times:
* Thursday 24 March 2022 from 7pm-9pm
* Saturday 26 March 2022 from 2pm-4pm

The REF documents can be accessed at:
* The Bermagui Library on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-5pm
* From the Transport for NSW website (https://facebook.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9030b531e962ad02c68a923c8&id=2071801397&e=34e977e1dc)

If you wish to comment on the proposal, send your comments by 4 April 2022:

• Via email to BermaguiDredging at transport.nsw.gov.au (mailto:BermaguiDredging at transport.nsw.gov.au)
• Via post to: Bermagui Dredging Project, Transport for NSW Maritime, 33 James Craig Road, Rozelle NSW 2039.
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