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Cuttagee Bridge renewal

Cuttagee Bridge is nearing the end of its functional life and planning is underway to determine its future design and configuration.

Project Background

Cuttagee Bridge is located on the Tathra to Bermagui Road, part of Main Road 272 (MR 272) and crosses the Cuttagee Lake entrance area at the northern end of Cuttagee Beach. It is a crucial road link between Barragga and Bermagui providing access to the Sapphire Coast.

The road also provides an important sealed alternative access to the Princes Highway in this region, from Tilba (or Cobargo) in the north, to Tathra, Bega and further south to Merimbula and Pambula via Sapphire Coast Drive and Arthur Kaine Drive. It provides emergency services access to an increasing residential rural population.

MR 272 also forms an integral part of the tourist facility of this coastal shire and is marked as a Tourist Route. It provides access to the popular Mimosa Rocks National Park, including the four camp sites at Aragunnu, Picnic Beach, Middle Beach and Gillards Beach. As summer tourists swell the local population and fire risk increases during warmer months, MR 272 needs to provide resilient and reliable access to these areas.

Cuttagee Bridge was originally designed and constructed by NSW Department of Public Works in 1892, as a four-span structure.  It was one of many that used the ‘simple beam’ construction, built from native hardwoods. The bridge was extended to eight-spans in 1898 and again in 1935, to 10-spans in response to shifting sands and flood damage.

Today’s bridge is still based on the 1935 structure, a single lane, 10-span bridge, approximately 110m long, with timber running boards and cross planks. The southern six spans are of traditional timber log girder construction supported by a combination of driven timber and steel piles. The northern 4 spans are of steel girder construction supported on concrete piers with a concrete abutment.

Purpose

While the existing bridge retains the form of the original 1930s structure, only the concrete substructure elements are original. The remainder has since been replaced over time, and now all in a condition which requires further renewal. 

Cuttagee Bridge is nearing the end of its functional life and is now subject to a load limit due to its deteriorating condition. It is at risk of structural failure and likely to be subjected to more restrictive load limits unless renewal is progressed.

Bega Valley Shire Council has a duty to ensure community assets are safe and fit for purpose. This includes Cuttagee Bridge, which is part of a main road, which Bega Valley Shire Council manages on behalf of the NSW Government. Decisions about the renewal of Cuttagee Bridge will need to consider the initial capital renewal and ongoing maintenance costs and disruption of constructing with timber or concrete as a primary material.  There will need to be careful consideration and balancing of short- and long-term issues such as risk, safety, durability, economics, heritage, tourism, and the environment.

Community Engagement

The Cuttagee Bridge community advisory group was established in September 2021 through an open expression of interest. The group was comprised of eight community members and was chaired by Council’s Director of Assets and Operations. Council also provided a secretariat. They met four times between November 2021 and February 2022, with their recommendations presented to Council in a report on 16 March 2022.

Community engagement is recognised as a key element to the successful outcome of this project and will be an on-going priority throughout this project.

Bega Valley Shire Council has engaged the services of GHD, a leading engineering and consulting firm, to partner with Council in delivering the Cuttagee Bridge Renewal project. An essential component of their work will be undertaking and delivering stakeholder engagement and consultation activities. GHD will bring their expertise in community engagement and infrastructure projects to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive consultation process regarding the three design options agreed between Transport for New South Wales and Bega Valley Council.

Funding

During the 2023 NSW election, a commitment of $15M was made for the repair and restoration of Cuttagee Bridge.  In January 2024 Council formally accepted the offer by the NSW Government. The funding, administered through Transport for NSW, has allowed Bega Valley Shire Council to engage a qualified project manager to develop options for consideration by Councillors and the community.

While this offer was not based on a developed design and may not be sufficient to cover the full cost of the renewal of the bridge, it is a significant contribution and step forward.  The funding agreement allows for the provision of a detailed options assessment of three concept designs for a replacement structure.

Connection to Council's Community Strategic Plan

This project is connect to Council's Community Strategic Plan through Outcome 5: Connected Communities:

Goal 10: We have a network of good quality roads, footpaths and cycleways connecting communities throughout the Shire and beyond

Related documents

 

Who can I speak to:

Cuttagee Bridge Renewal Project Team
Email: cuttageebridge@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

 

Timeline of works

 

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