The announcement by Council to immediately tear down the old Mowbray Bridge structure has caused a stir in the community and Council’s Chief Executive Officer Linda Cardew is adamant community safety is the number one priority.

Council advised they have received a report from a consultant engineer that recommended the immediate removal of the timber structure due to significant risk of personal injury.

As part of Counci’s operational procedure, Ms Cardew advised the assessment of the Mowbray Bridge was part of a scheduled inspection of the condition of bridges across the Shire. 

“The recommendation from the expert structural engineer is that the platform is at risk of imminent catastrophic failure and anyone using it is at significant risk of personal injury,” said Ms Cardew.

Despite no injuries being reported to date, Ms Cardew advised that safety concerns for the community is Councils’ priority.

“Council has a legal responsibility to act immediately on this advice to protect the community and has done so.

“Any other action other than removal would be irresponsible of Council,” she said.

According to our readers comments, the old Mowbray Bridge is an iconic landmark and is part of the Mowbray and Douglas Shire history.  It is also a popular tourist facility as well as being an attractive fishing and croc sighting spot.

With this in mind, the public has suggested that Council consider erecting dedicated fishing platforms, as well as making it safer, so that it can remain a free tourism asset.

“Council should be providing more land based fishing areas, not taking away one of the very few options available in the area,” said one reader.

It was suggested by another reader “Council consider a tourism or community grant to reconfigure the remnant bridge into a great fishing facility, rather than a hasty demise based on a report.”

While the community acknowledges the need for public safety, the feedback indicates they would like Council to consider making the bridge safer as well as installing fishing platforms, as an alternative to pulling it down immediately.

Ms Cardew advised it would be up to the new Council to determine if a replacement platform is a capital works priority.

“If it is, then Council staff will act on Council’s direction,” she said.

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Update:

As this story we being published Newsport received via public comment a Notice of Motion - Review of Condition of “Old” Mowbray River Bridge. The comment was received by Caretaker Councillor Terry Melchert where he states the motion will be put before a Council meeting on February 23. Read Mr Melchert's full announcement

http://www.newsport.com.au/Old-Mowbray-Bridge-structure-to-be-remov.13450.0.html

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