Groves Weir Rd Bridge causes headache for council and Colbinabbin farmers

It is a not quite two-lane thoroughfare but red tape says it has to be, and will be, either a single or double or not at all.

And in this day of tighter budgets that means Campaspe Shire was planning a single lane replacement.

Which farmers say will cripple their operations, deeming alternative routes unfit and unsafe for slow-moving large farm machinery.

Something they have been keen to demonstrate to Campaspe Shire, and reasons they explained at the February council meeting.

A 12 tonne load limit is in place currently after an independent bridge inspection in May 2018 found it was “unfit to carry heavy vehicles and needed to be load-limited”.

The report stated that the bridge was not fit for heavy vehicles not only in its current state but also in as-new condition.

However residents on Groves Weir Rd believe the bridge has always, and still can, support heavier loads in its current state.

And they want to see evidence to the contrary.

“We as ratepayers have asked for proof of the damage or cracks that are in this bridge ever since the restrictions have been put on it. And we are yet to see any proof that there are cracks under it,” farmer Bryon McIntosh said.

“Every time we get a letter (from council) the goalposts keep changing, first we were told it was inspected in February 2018, then in May 2018.

“February we were told by Richard Conway that they put a drone under the bridge. There is not enough clearance for that, I would have liked to see it.

“Then we were told there was a camera on a boat.

“I would still like to see that and how they would see the damage.”

The current load limit requires farmers to detour via Kennedy Rd to the West or Guy Rd to the East, more than tripling the journey for some farmers.

And adding more risk to every journey, with bridges at intersections impeding vision and creating crests difficult for machinery to navigate.

“For us, there are animals to move, machinery to move and we always try to do this in the most efficient way,” he said.

“I did speak to the chief executive and he did return a letter to me, in it he mentioned safety. Safety by what? Making us use the Bendigo-Murchison Rd with machinery, I don’t think so.

“For us the extra travel would equate to about 14km from our nearest farm, instead of 3km. We move approximately 2000 sheep up and down that road to our shearing shed.

“Try forcing those sheep through a 14ft gap, is what the proposal is, instead of currently 20ft.

“Or forcing sheep on a main road, that is a dangerous issue.”

Another local farmer, William Pepperell, said replacing the existing 6.1m bridge with a single-lane, 4.8m bridge will force farmers onto other roads, possibly dirt roads, which will require more maintenance from council and on farmers for their machinery.

“If this proposal was passed it would be, at the very least, an additional 10km for farmers and contractors to travel,” he said.

“They would be travelling over three extra bridges and on gravel roads, this would surely cost council more in maintenance after years.

“This bridge is used by all locals and travellers including the school bus, photographers, campers, hunters and will be reduced to something deemed not fit for purpose.”

However councillors were wary of approving construction of a two-lane bridge due to cost to ratepayers, low traffic levels on Groves Weir Rd and the capacity of a Goulburn-Murray Water-owned bridge also on the road.

Councillors moved an amended motion to complete an updated condition report on the bridge and work with GMW to determine the timeline and specifications of the nearby bridge.

“I pass this amendment on the fact that we need a condition assessment of council’s bridge and to know GMW’s intent for their bridge,” Cr Zobec said.

Councillors agreed that it was frivolous to upgrade council’s infrastructure to a two-lane structure if GMW’s could not support a similar capacity.

“GMW manages two bridges over the Waranga Western Canal between Groves Weir Road and the Rushworth-Colbinabbin Road in Colbinabbin,” GMW general manager Daniel Irwin said.

“We are actively working alongside Campaspe Shire Council on its proposal to upgrade its bridge at Groves Weir Road, including setting an appropriate load limit.

“When it comes to upgrading assets across the entire delivery network, GMW is ensuring we match the right maintenance with the right level of investment and provide the best value for our customers now and for the future.”

The main thing Bryon hoped council and GMW would note is the permanence of the decision.

“If council decides to replace our bridge with a smaller bridge they are not looking to the future of our industry and the next generation of farmers,” he said.

“To us, this is there for the next 100-150 years.”