Shire Mayor welcomes infrastructure spending

Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes has welcomed new NSW Government infrastructure spending in the shire while praising Council’s delivery of bushfire recovery projects in the face of COVID-19.

Speaking at the newly replaced Rosedale footbridge on Friday 24 July, Clr Innes said she couldn’t be happier for the villagers, “this footbridge gives back the north and south access the people of Rosedale have enjoyed for generations, lost during the bushfires”.

Rosedalian David Boardman has been associated with the village for 54 years and echoed that sentiment, “It’s all one Rosedale and now we’ve re-established the physical connection.”

Council’s construction coordinator Greg Knight said the previous bridge was built from soft-wood timbers and burnt in the fires despite efforts by residents to put it out.

“This new bridge has stronger timbers and a fibreglass deck – we expect this bridge to be around upwards of 50 odd years,” Mr Knight said.

Also present at the Rosedale footbridge, Bega MP Andrew Constance said the reconnection of north and south Rosedale was another step forward in community recovery, with the footbridge funded by Disaster Welfare money, and Council works crews again delivering.

Mr Constance took the opportunity on Friday to announce significant infrastructure spending in Eurobodalla, including $3.1 million for local roads in the shire and $2.48 million for marine infrastructure across the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley shires.

At the Brierleys Boat Ramp on Moruya’s North Head, Clr Innes said the grant included significant upgrades to boat ramp facilities at Hanging Rock in Batemans Bay, a new pontoon for Narooma’s Apex Park boat ramp, facilities upgrades at Mossy Point boat ramp, and  new facilities and upgrades for the Brierleys boat ramp.

“Considering what we’ve been through with bushfires and COVID-19, I think the community will be reassured to see that Council has proactively sought funding to improve our shire,” she said.

“With this money we will deliver some excellent projects for our boaters and fishers, and for the wider community. When travel is safe again, tourists wanting to share our unique coast bring economic benefits to us all.”

“We’re incredibly successful in securing infrastructure funds thanks to our proven delivery record and the competence of people like infrastructure director Warren Sharpe and his teams; the state government knows our projects are shovel-ready, and they’ll be delivered on time and budget.”