THE clock is ticking on Swan Hill’s bridge.
It has already been a multi-generational wait to have the current bridge replaced; and the $60 million allocated three years ago by the Liberal-Nationals in Canberra has enabled preliminary design work and the business case to be started.
But at the same time, competition to be the next Murray River crossing is hotting up, with Yarrawonga-Mulwala lining up for its own new bridge.
There has been agreement from both local governments that the McCallum Street option is the way we are going and that is what the business case planning is based on.
The last thing we need here is further delay – and with the feasibility study and business case now having bee transferred from VicRoads to its NSW counterpart, Roads and Maritime, there should be no more hold-ups.
Which is why we need to keep the pressure on to make sure this work is done as quickly as possible.
Once that’s finished, it will then be imperative for both Victoria and NSW to make their budget allocations to go with the federal money to finally have our bridge built.
I will be pushing hard once the business case shows the amounts needed as we head towards the state election in November; to ensure this project stays on track.
Everyone I have been talking to about this also agree for Swan Hill to grow as a region it needs a much better connection between both sides of the river – and that means a decent two-way bridge.
It is absolutely vital, for the continued rebuilding and recovery of Swan Hill region post COVID, that this project is the number one priority on the list for Murray River crossings.
If this was Melbourne, the bridge would already be up and open. Because it’s regional Victoria we’ve all had to wait.
And that’s not good enough.
