Bellingen Shire Council has marked the completion of its Fixing Country Bridges Program – one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in the Shire’s history – with the official opening of Hobarts Bridge today.
Mayor, Steve Allan, joined local Members of Parliament Pat Conaghan, Michael Kemp and representatives from the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation (MNCJO) to celebrate the sizeable achievement.
He said the completion of Hobarts Bridge highlights the strong partnership between all levels of Government working together to deliver essential infrastructure that strengthens safety, connectivity and long-term resilience for the community.
“Today marks the completion of one of the biggest capital works programs in our Council’s history,” Mayor Allan said.
“Replacing 31 bridges across our Shire has improved safety, resilience, and accessibility for our community delivering infrastructure that supports our goals of being connected, creative, and sustainable.”
In total, $34.4 million has been invested to deliver 31 new and upgraded bridges across the Shire, significantly improving safety, connectivity and resilience for residents, businesses and visitors.
The Council has benefitted from major investment through the Fixing Country Bridges Program, receiving $20.3 million in Round 1 and a further $10.5 million in Round 2.
The NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program is a $500 million investment that supports councils to replace ageing timber bridges and improve safety, connectivity and resilience across regional and rural communities.
This work was further supported by $2.4 million from the Australian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program for the replacement of the Kalang River and Richardson bridges, along with an additional $1.2 million contributed by Council.
NSW Minister for Roads and Minister Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said the project’s completion was a significant win for the Bellingen Shire community.
“This project is about more than replacing old bridges – it’s about making life easier, safer and more secure for the people who call Bellingen Shire home,” she said.
“With the completion of Hobarts Bridge and the wider program of works, local families, businesses and emergency services now have the modern, reliable infrastructure they deserve. I’m incredibly proud of what this partnership has delivered for the community.”
The Mid North Coast Joint Organisation (MNCJO), comprising Bellingen, Kempsey, and Port Macquarie-Hastings Councils, played a key role in securing this outcome through the Timber Bridge Renewal Prospectus, a joint submission to the NSW Government.
The MNCJO collectively manages 15% of the state’s timber bridge network, with 219 timber bridges serving more than 130,000 residents.
Through their collaboration, the group secured funding to replace or upgrade 91 bridges across the three LGAs, with 33 of those in the Bellingen Shire.
Bellingen Shire Council General Manager, Mark Griffioen said the success of the program demonstrates the strength of regional collaboration.
“Working together allows councils to address shared challenges more effectively and advocate with a stronger voice. The Fixing Country Bridges program shows what’s possible when regional councils unite to deliver lasting infrastructure improvements for our communities,” he said.
Mayor Allan said the completion of the Fixing Country Bridges Program stands as a milestone achievement for the Council and its partners, a project delivered to the highest standards of safety, environmental care, and engineering excellence.
“This program has strengthened the backbone of our transport network by delivering safer, more reliable access across the Shire for residents, farmers, businesses, and emergency services,” he said.
“These bridges will serve our community for generations to come, connecting people and places across our beautiful region.”
Council extended its gratitude to the NSW Government for its significant funding support through the Fixing Country Bridges Program, and to the council staff, engineers, and contractors whose expertise and commitment ensured the project’s success.
“This was an enormous task involving years of planning, design, and construction across challenging terrain,” said Mr Griffioen.
“Our teams have done an outstanding job delivering this program safely and efficiently. It’s a project we can all be proud of – a lasting investment in the safety, sustainability, and connectivity of the Bellingen Shire.”
