General News
29 August, 2023
Bridge delays at Princetown
IN a devasting blow to the Princetown community, delays with the bridge upgrades has seen access cut to the Gellibrand River until at least Easter next year.
IN a devasting blow to the Princetown community, delays with the bridge upgrades has seen access cut to the Gellibrand River until at least Easter next year.
Access to the boat ramp area and car park was restricted earlier this year with works now at least 10 months behind schedule.
Montarosa director Gavin Ronan said traffic was successfully diverted to a temporary floating bridge across the Gellibrand River on Monday, August 21.
“The temporary bridge will remain in place for at least 10 months as work progresses to replace the Old Coach Road bridge in Princetown – a 1940s timber structure that has reached the end of its useful life,” he said.
“While work will now begin on the new bridge, there were engineering complexities with establishing the temporary bridge which delayed the project.
“Due to these delays, project works will continue – as permitted – but the boat ramp will be closed to the public for at least 10 months, which will include the upcoming Christmas and Easter holidays.”
Mr Ronan said pedestrian access to the National Park, including the picnic and lawn area, Great Ocean Walk and the southern end of the jetty and river gauge, remains open.
“Public access to the river from the National Park picnic area will remain in place for kayak users, fishing etc,” he said.
“Works will generally be carried out from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, weather permitting.”
Princetown Recreation Reserve Committee of Management chairperson Darin Blain said the floating bridge was already causing issues for campers.
He said a camper staying at the reserve had reported damaging underneath their caravan due to the entry and exit points of the floating bridge last week.
“This needs immediate work to be done to rectify the problem,” Mr Blain said.
“The floating bridge is not fit for purpose.”
He said the committee has raised concerns with the Corangamite Shire who approved the Construction Management Plan in 2019 and was waiting for a response.
Mr Blain said the committee was also concerned about what plans had been put in place in an emergency, with no access to the boat ramp and the recreation reserve used as an emergency response hub.
“What is the procedure for a rescue?” he said.
“Any delays in a rescue mission turn it into a recovery mission.”
Mr Blain said the lack of access to boat ramp had a “large impact” on not only campers at the reserve, but local residents who have accessed the space for generations.
“How does a private group get a public car park closed?” he asked.
“That’s for his (Montarosa’s) benefit; it’s strictly for his benefit.”
Princetown resident and business owner Matt Bowker also raised concerns with the lack of access to the boat ramp.
“The impacts will be significant for the Rec Reserve camping because many visitors bring boats to use on the river for fishing and access to the mouth - particularly if they have mobility issues and can’t walk all the way to the ocean,” he said.
Mr Bowker said it was hard to believe Corangamite Shire Council allowed a private developer to completely close access to the river over the important Christmas and Easter Period.
“The expectation is that the visitation will be significantly affected once people know they cannot access the boat ramp for such an extended period,” he said.
“The reality is that the developer owns land only 200 metres from the construction site and can use it for the storage of materials instead of closing an important local public asset.”
Mr Bowker said it was no surprise to him the project has had issues.
“The delays to the bridge have been caused by the issues of design by the developer that should have been identified before construction started,” he said.
“The developer (Gavin Ronan) has no previous experience in the construction of roads or bridges.”
Corangamite Shire Council was contacted for comment and did not respond prior to publication.