People living near the historic Acheron Breakaway Bridge in north-east Victoria say they’re still waiting for concrete updates from Murrindindi Shire Council about when works to help reopen it will take place.
Key points:
- The historic wooden bridge has been closed since October following flood damage
- A local caravan park manager says the community’s needs have not been prioritised
- There are concerns about the impacts of further flooding if river works don’t take place
The wooden trestle bridge has been closed since October when the Goulburn River flooded and caused significant damage.
Breakaway Twins Caravan Park manager Jamie Duggan said the park was still recovering from the flood.
“The owners have already spent close to $200,000 to $300,000, and that’s just underestimating all the expenses,” he said.
He said money was still being spent on clean-up efforts and estimated another $200,000 may still need to be spent.
‘We’ve been put on the back burner’
With the bridge’s continued closure and some businesses still recovering, heavy rain this week added to locals’ concerns about the risk of further flooding.
Mr Duggan said with the caravan park fully booked across the King’s Birthday long weekend, he had been worried that bookings would need to be cancelled.
However, the rain cleared on Friday afternoon, and his fears were not realised.
Mr Duggan said the bridge’s ongoing closure was frustrating for community members.
“We feel like we’ve just been put on the back burner,” he said.
“There are things being done behind the scenes, obviously, but nothing concrete for us to be able to say, ‘This is going to happen and it’s going to take this long roughly.'”
The bridge’s closure has had a significant economic impact, Mr Duggan said, with staff members travelling additional distances to work.
“For our business personally, the fuel bill is skyrocketing,” he said.
“Workers are struggling to meet the costs of the fuel bills each week now that it’s a bit longer to get here.
“I know that a few businesses have suffered dramatically as well.”
‘We feel very vulnerable’
Marian Rennie is a local artist who runs a gallery next to the bridge, which her family has run since the early 1900s.
She said the business had suffered badly since the bridge’s closure, with visitors now having to travel the long way around through Alexandra.
“Lots of my customers were Melbourne-based, and they really don’t want to go the extra bit away,” she said.
“It’s not that far, but it’s the psychological distance, and they don’t want to go around.
“It’s had a huge impact on my business … I have no passing trade.
“I would be down about three-quarters of my normal trade, and I’ve basically had to try and reinvent my business, which I’m doing.”
Ms Rennie said debris left on the bridge in the flood caused water from the river to divert onto the family property.
She said the diversion eroded about 100 metres of the river bank, with about 30 square metres of land and fencing lost.
“We’re upset that eight months later, nothing has been done,” she said.
“We feel very vulnerable because if the river diverts its course, because nothing has been done to reinforce the bank where it eroded away, that will come straight through our farm and create another riverway through our farm.”
The council has been contacted for comment.