Federation Council’s Director Engineering Services Steve Carmichael advised council at it’s monthly meeting on Tuesday that NSW Roads and Maritime (RMS) want to undertake major repairs to the Yarrawonga Mulwala main traffic bridge which is expected to take at least six months.
Mr Carmichael addressed council after Mulwala based councillor Bronwyn Thomas raised the matter.
“They (RMS) are wanting to do it (major repairs) at night and the bridge will be closed at certain times,” Mr Carmichael said.
“Some main trusses have to be replaced. They are about to set up a depot site in Mulwala.”
Cr Thomas asked: “What’s happening, there’s no disclosure to the public.”
Federation Council will now urgently communicate with the Murray Darling Basin Association (MDBA) regarding the date of closure of the Yarrawonga Weir Bridge.
The Yarrawonga Chronicle has tried on numerous occasions to find out the exact date the weir bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic since last August, but disappointingly the bridge’s managing authority MDBA could only confirm it would be closed in the second half of the year with the exact date yet to be confirmed.
In a statement provided by the authority a spokesperson said: “No date has yet been set but it is unlikely to be before the second half of 2020.
“MDBA is working with the state road authorities, Transport NSW and VicRoads, on actions needed before closing the bridge.”
The MDBA spokesperson said that local councils and key stakeholders will be consulted on the closure timing and the local community will be notified of the closure date “well in advance” of the bridge being closed.
It has left members of the community wondering what the comment “well in advance” actually means now that we are almost into February, 2020.