Building Bridges Through Shoalhaven Bushfire Recovery Effort - Media Release - Shoalhaven City Council

 

19 August 2020

A reinforced concrete bridge across

School Creek, Budgong will soon be

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complete, just seven months after the

fires that burnt 80 percent of the

Shoalhaven, including five bridges.

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor,

 Amanda Findley said “The School 

Creek bridge has been constructed 

relatively quickly with a crane lifting 

into place factory-made bridge decks, 

prepared in Newcastle, ready for the 

final concrete pour.”

"All that remained of the bridge after it

 was destroyed by fire, on January 4, 

were the concrete piers," said Clr 

Findley.

"Understandably local residents have

found the lack of a bridge difficult,

especially following the trauma of the 

fires. Without a bridge, the journey to

Nowra or Kangaroo Valley could take

 an hour by car. Thankfully a landowner

 has generously allowed some local

 vehicles under a temporary 2 tonne 

culvert crossing via private property, 

but that has been dry weather 

dependent," she said.

"Council has worked as quickly as 

possible to rebuild infrastructure 

damaged by the fires with more fire 

resilient replacements which has taken 

time to secure funding, finalise tenders 

and arrange contracts. It is heartening 

to see Budgong residents can now 

enjoy a high-quality concrete bridge, a 

replacement for the previous aged 

timber bridge," said Clr Findley.

Shoalhaven Council was the first

local, government authority to place an

 order for the InQuik bridge at School 

Creek and Toomboolomobah in the

 Shoalhaven area, and as a result 

have led the way for other 

municipalities to use this type of fast 

track installation. InQuik has now been 

commissioned to install over 20 

bridges as a result of the Currowan 

fire.

"It is also pleasing that all businesses

and workers involved in the 

reconstruction, earthworks and 

cranage are local and/or regional 

NSW-based businesses. Contractor 

Inquik's internationally patented 

Bridging System has enabled the 

bridge to be built quickly and providing 

an enduring permanent solution at a 

competitive cost to temporary bridging 

solutions thanks to the innovative semi-

modular construction method," said Clr 

Findley.

Photo: Reconstruction of School Creek Bridge.

The replacement of the bridge over School Creek 

on Bugong Road is the last of the five destroyed  

bridges in the Shoalhaven to be replaced as a 

result of the Currowan fire, and just one the  

significant achievements of Council and its 

Recovery Committee.