Strong advocates for the ‘Green’ Route for the new Yarrawonga Mulwala Traffic Bridge – Robert Purtle OAM of Mulwala (right) and John Lawless from Yarrawonga at Lake Mulwala, with the green route near the railway line in the background.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The route known as ‘the green route’ – near and in parallel to the railway line - appears set to be the one confirmed for the new Yarrawonga Mulwala Traffic Bridge across Lake Mulwala.
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Transport for NSW will advise both the NSW and Victorian Governments of the outcome of its consultation with the Yarrawonga Mulwala community and will seek endorsement for the now preferred option. Endorsement is expected to be a mere formality.
“The community will be informed once a clear path forward is formed and funding for the construction of a new structure has been secured,” NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said on December 23.
“The preferred route for a new crossing over the Murray River is one step closer following the release of a community feedback summary report.
“The ‘Green’ route will now be confirmed with the NSW and Victorian Governments after community consultation to better understand the community’s preference.”
The ‘Grey’ route – along Irvine Parade to cross the lake at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Visitor Information Centre - was decided as the preferred route in 2015 by the NSW and Victorian Governments after both states’ road authorities recommendations. Neither route involves Yarrawonga’s main street, Belmore Street.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said: “Based on the feedback and changed council preferences, both governments understood community sentiment may have changed and we felt further consultation was necessary to confirm the preferred option.
“Transport for NSW received 285 comments/submissions during consultation from 15 June to 30 July which focused on issues including requests to retain the existing bridge, concerns about trucks on Belmore Street and planning for future population growth and development.”
Map provided in 2021 consultation material showing ‘Grey’ and ‘Green’ routes
He said support for the green route referenced reduced congestion due to heavy vehicles being diverted away from the Yarrawonga town centre, while grey route support focussed on connectivity between the two town centres, including pedestrians and cyclists, and local traffic flow between frequently accessed destinations. It is understood at least 74% of respondents were for the green route.
Timeframes for design and construction of the new bridge are yet to be determined and depend on budget allocation according to Transport for NSW who expect the time to be between five and 10 years as per the Murray River crossings investment prioritisation assessment.
In 2018, the NSW and Victorian governments carried out the Murray River Crossings Investment Prioritisation Assessment to help inform and prioritise future investment decisions by ranking each crossing over the Murray River.
The assessment reviewed 32 bridge and ferry assets and considered freight connectivity, road safety, reliability, condition, proximity to alternate crossings and pedestrian and cyclist facilities.
Mulwala Bridge was ranked eighth highest priority for investment, behind Swan Hill, Tooleybuc, Abbotsford, John Foord, Murrabit, Towong and George Chaffey bridges.
The Federal Government has indicated a 40% contribution towards the bridge’s construction similar to Echuca’s new crossing.
Mr Farraway said: “We’ve known since the previous consultation held in 2014 that there’s been growing support from communities on both sides of the border for the ‘Green’ route, it’s no surprise that the feedback confirms strong support for this alignment.”
That support has been approximately 74% for the green route, by both Yarrawonga and Mulwala communities.
On June 2 last year, the then Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole visited Mulwala to announce a final six-week consultation process which he said was the last chance for local residents to provide their feedback on their preferred route.
“People are wanting clarification…about the grey and green routes, outlining the risks and benefits of both routes, the process to finalisation and there’ll be no going back,” he said at the time. Mr Toole is now Deputy Premier of NSW.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy said the expected outcome would be very welcomed by the two border towns, Federation Council, Moira Shire Council and Mulwala Progress Association.
“The ‘green’ route has had widespread support for some time, now the community has certainty that both state governments also support this alignment and we’re excited to see the bridge a significant step closer to becoming a reality,” he said.
“This route will cater for growing communities on both sides and will create a more accessible crossing of Lake Mulwala for the local community and freight operators.
“Mulwala Bridge has been a vital transport link between the twin towns of Mulwala in NSW and Yarrawonga in Victoria since it was built in 1924.”
The main person driving the renewed push for the green route, Robert Purtle OAM of Mulwala has addressed the former Corowa Shire Council (who supported the grey route), met with the new Federation Council (who supported the green route), various states’ politicians (including Mr Toole last June) and federal politicians on the subject.
“Members of the Yarrawonga/Mulwala Green Route Community Committee are ecstatic about the decision to confirm the green route as the preferred option, as now this gives certainty for the alignment of the new bridge to go ahead,” Mr Purtle told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
He and another strong advocate for the green route, John Lawless of Yarrawonga, wish to thank the Victorian Government, the NSW Government the Federation Council and Moira Shire Council “for finally listening to our communities who have overwhelmingly supported the green route over the past six years”.
“We would also like to thank the many people from the community who have made themselves available to attend meetings and supported us all the way since we first started campaigning for the green route,” Mr Purtle said.
“There have been many, including Andrew McPherson, Mick Mullarvey and Doug Evans (OAM).
“In October 2021 our Member for Albury Justin Clancy spoke before the House in the NSW Legislative Assembly about the hard work and commitment of people, business and organisations in their local community referring to the campaign for the green route, and we would like to thank him for that support.”
Mr Lawless and Mr Purtle helped gather 10,000 signatures in a 2014 petition seeking change from grey to green route, the former referring to the fight with the two road authorities since 2012.
“At least now they’ve listened to the people and common sense has prevailed,” Mr Lawless said.
The local pair said with the closure last October of the weir bridge, attention has to be focussed on the next step to see action towards the new bridge commenced as soon as possible.
“Funding will need to be sourced from both the States and the Federal Government as this is our main object moving forward,” Mr Purtle said.
“We will now keep the pressure on the relevant bodies to fund, design and work on getting our new bridge as soon as possible.”
