AFTER 50 years, a $4.5 million investment has put Echuca one step closer to development of a second Murray River crossing, but the new bridge in Swan Hill remains up to 10 years away.
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan was in the region yesterday to make a number of announcements including $4.5 million to begin initial works at a second crossing over the Murray River between Echuca and Moama.
Works will include development of a roundabout at the intersection of Warren Street and the Murray Valley Highway — a notorious intersection on the Swan Hill side of Echuca.
A route option has also been selected.
Meanwhile in Swan Hill, agreement on a bridge route option remains a while away, with Swan Hill Rural City Council recently rescinding support for option 9a — which is supported by Wakool Shire Council — and instead showing preference for the 4b overlay.
Mr Ryan said an agreement would need to be reached by key stakeholders before the project advances.
“Ultimately there will be agreement, concessions will be made and people will agree,” he said.
“They are projects of major dimension and people have strong points of view about it that is the nature of things.
“The government does not want to be in the position where it faces opposition from the community in its different forms to what the proposal might ultimately be.
“One way or the other it will work itself through.”
Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Les McPhee said discussions were ongoing, but that he did not think any decision would be reached soon.
“We have got to work with all of the partners to get the best outcome for Swan Hill,” he said.
“It is not going to happen in the next five to 10 years, the Echuca bridge will be built before then, we still have a long way to go.
“We continue to work with all of the parties in relation to the bridge to get the best outcome for Swan Hill, but it is a long term project.”
He would not indicate if there was any way the council may be prepared to compromise in in the discussions if it were necessary.
