A 30-year long fight for an obviously needed new Yarrawonga Mulwala bridge crossing over Lake Mulwala has been heard once again in Federal parliament recently.
Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell spoke in parliament on Tuesday, September 12 urging the commonwealth government to come together with both state governments to get the bridge built.
“We speak of the mighty Murray River as the life blood of regional communities, so I want to speak about bridges across this. Infrastructure that connects the community across the length of our greatest river,” Mr Birrell said.
“The old Echuca Moama bridge stood in use for 143 years, long after it ceased to meet the needs of community, regional and interstate freight.
“A new bridge opened on April 11 last year, a $323 million project was backed by the Member for Gippsland as minister and was jointly funded by the NSW and Victoria governments.
“The Echuca Moama bridge was designed, funded and built by the Coalition Government and you can drive on it. I have driven on it, and in fact 10,000 cars a day drive on it.
“It is time for a similar joint product to replace the Yarrawonga Mulwala bridge in my electorate.
“The bridge has sinkage, a sag in the middle.
“It’s safe, but it’s single lane and it’s well short of what is needed to take the volume of traffic including tourists and freight.
“We build bridges. It’s time for the NSW/ Victorian and Commonwealth governments to come together and design, fund and build a new bridge across the Murray River between Mulwala and Yarrawonga.
“Now the government’s 133 days into a 90-day review into its infrastructure, and you can’t drive on that, but you can drive across the Echuca Moama bridge.”
The fight for a new bridge, which has seen no further progress since advocating began in 1993, has had both local councils as well as the numerous state and federal MPs over that time joining the call to action.
The two main Yarrawonga Green Route Committee personnel, who have been actively pursuing the feasible green route lake crossing, John Lawless and Robert Purtle OAM – re-inforced some big points last week.
Green Route Committee Chair Mr Lawless said the Yarrawonga Mulwala crossing is the fifth highest vehicle crossing on the Murray River, behind Albury-Wodonga, Tocumwal, Echuca and Mildura.
“They’ve all been built,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“Tocumwal and Swan Hill have got one-third of our traffic. We’re trying desperately to get our new bridge lifted to top priority.
“We want our new bridge to be number one priority because it’s the fifth busiest along the Murray and it’s only going to get busier with the big Australian defence ammunition program for Defence Industries Mulwala where up to 200 additional employees are expected in the next five years.”
The chairman referred to next year being the centenary of the existing traffic bridge’s establishment in 1924.
“Next year will be 100 years – it’s surely the time to upgrade, the time to act and have a new bridge,” Mr Lawless said. “We’ve been on this for 15 years.”
Movement of key, high level players in governments have presented obstacles towards having a new bridge according to Mulwala Progress Committee President and Green Route Committee’s Mr Purtle.
“Just when we feel we’re making real progress with someone or some people, there’s a move of that person or persons and it’s back to square one,” Mr Purtle said.
“It’s as though no-one in government knows what we’ve been saying or writing. But we fight on and we believe that between the three governments, we will get what we want – and the communities of Yarrawonga and Mulwala want - and that is the green route designed and built.”
Member for Albury Justin Clancy has also advocated for progress for the entirety of his term as the local member, adding that a Murray River Crossings Investment Prioritisation Assessment is currently underway with the findings to be published by the end of 2023.
“My understanding is that Mulwala is expecting to be a high-grade listing,” Mr Clancy said.
“My view at the end of the day is that all of the governments (local council, state and federal) should get around a table to work out the funding.
“It would take time to actually construct the bridge itself but there is no reason to not be on the front foot with the funding. Put into place a framework to take the project forward.
“The Yarrawonga Mulwala bridge was eighth on the list in 2018 when the last official priority assessment was updated. The Mulwala bridge should be high on the priority list but we understand that we have to await the review into the priority of all Murray River crossings which should be completed by the end of this year.”
Recently Mr Clancy wrote to the NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison asking for an update on proceedings with Ms Aitchison responding that a Strategic Business Case for the Murray River Crossings is in its final stages with the local area to find out if the Yarrawonga Mulwala Traffic bridge has climbed the ladder for priority.
“I appreciate your desire to keep the local community informed of progress and your advocacy on their behalf, noting the significant impacts a new bridge will have on the local economy,” Ms Aitchison said in her letter dated September 9.
“Transport for NSW has advised me that the Strategic Business Case for the Murray River Crossings is now in its final stages. This will include an economic appraisal to determine priorities and demonstrate a case for funding.
“The final Strategic Business Case will include recommendations for the Mulwala Bridge and the findings will be released to key stakeholders in the coming months.
“Please be assured that Transport for NSW will continue to keep all stakeholders updated as information becomes available.”
Mr Clancy said that it is ridiculous that essentially no progress has been made in the last decade and enough time has passed since the beginning of community advocating that this should now be on the short list.
“I want to see it as a short-term priority. We just need to make a start, this has gone on for too many years,” Mr Clancy said.
“I am going to keep advocating until the bridge is built.
“Let’s make sure each government involved is doing the work that needs be done.”