Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg and NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Sam Farraway today opened the new Tucki Creek Bridge at Tucki Tucki which was replaced due to safety issues.

Lismore City Council's specialist Bridge Crew replaced the ageing wooden bridge with a new 12.1m x 4.8m single-span concrete structure. This new structure founded on concrete-driven piles has been designed and constructed to achieve a 100-year design life while improving its flood immunity and safety for local farmers and truck drivers.

To give an idea of the amount of water that flowed through Tucki Tucki Creek in February, council staff said the water level was 1 metre above the Tucki Creek Bridge sign (pictured below).

“This is great news for our community. The new bridge will ensure that our farmers can get their produce to markets and improves the connectivity across our whole Local Government Area,” Mayor Krieg said.

“Importantly, Council has ‘Built Back Better’ by improving the resilience of the bridge to flooding.”

This was the theme of the Tucki Creek Bridge opening as Mayor Krieg and Minister Farraway often referred to 'Building Back Better'.

"We need to make sure that actually do that and we don't just do the same rebuild that we've always done, Minister Farraway said.

The Minister referred to the $312 Betterment Fund, which is funding from the NSW State Government and the Commonwealth Government for the first time in history to assist local governments with the rebuilding of their infrastructure projects.

"We're looking for practical options and solutions to help our infrastructure be more sustainable, more resilient and to withstand weather events. That funding is there to make sure that we rebuild right."

No project can be started under this funding until the criteria and the guidelines have been finalised which the Minister said was "imminent".

The question was raised about the predicted scarcity of materials to complete future infrastructure projects as we are already under pressure in that area.

"There has been (capacity issues) for a number of months and they will continue to be for some time. That is why it is important for government of all levels to be working and collaborating together to make sure that we have a pipeline of works that doesn't compound the problem but actually delivers the rebuilding infrastructure in a timely manner but with an actual plan."

From capacity issues to inflationary issues, the Minister was asked about the reported 20% increase in the price of materials and the effect that will have on the rebuild funds in the budget.

"There has to be some ceiling (to the budget) because they are the NSW taxpayer's funds that we are disbursing in a financially important process to make sure the money is well spent. There are definitely price pressures and variations, the cost of building has gone up in recent times. The only way we can effectively manage costs and keep building and rebuilding this infrastructure is by working together (with local government).

Council has its own bridge construction and maintenance crew which has the knowledge and experience to deliver construction projects, as well as maintain their existing timber bridge networks which is a specialist skill.

The Tucki Creek Bridge is the third of ten aging wooden bridges Council is replacing thanks to an $11 million grant under the Fixing Country Bridges program funded by the State Government.

(The official cutting of the ribbon for the Tucki Creek Bridge in the late afternoon sun) 

Minister Farraway said the $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program is replacing timber bridges across the state with more reliable structures that will improve access throughout local communities.

“Last week we announced the first timber bridges that will receive funding through Round Two of the program. In Round 1, funding was awarded to councils to replace more than 400 timber bridges across 54 LGAs,” he said.

“With each bridge replaced, we’re opening up more efficient routes for heavy vehicles from freight to the local school bus and RFS tankers. Improving access for freight companies helps them to reduce their operational costs, which will ultimately reduce costs for NSW families when buying the goods at the local supermarket.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the bridge renewal program is a great initiative that all community members benefit from.

“It’s great to see another one completed - that’s three down – and powering on with the rest. I thank Minister Farraway for being here to officiate,” she said.

LCC said this project has helped support 20 local jobs over the three months construction was carried out, including five full-time positions.