Bridges in Cowper to benefit from new Coalition program

June 17, 2010

A Coalition Government will create a $600 million program to rebuild and repair thousands of ageing and decaying bridges around Australia, including some in the Cowper electorate, Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker said.

The new Bridges Renewal Program will receive a $300 million contribution from a Federal Coalition Government over four years, to be matched on a dollar for dollar and case by case basis by local or state governments.

“This is a very important program because I know that councils across the Cowper electorate simply don’t have the funds to upgrade every bridge,” Mr Hartsuyker said. “There are many examples in the Nambucca, Bellingen and Kempsey shires which were particularly hard hit by last year’s weather. The Coffs Harbour and Clarence Local Government areas could also benefit from this program.

“Some councils have been unable to afford maintenance and upgrades necessary to keep these bridges open. Some have load limits. Sometimes people simply have to find another route. The federal money will be distributed on a competitive application basis, giving priority to community needs and economic return. It will be part of the AusLink programs and further details will be released closer to the election.

“This is a great initiative, and dovetails nicely with the superb Roads to Recovery program, which the former Coalition government created,” Mr Hartsuyker said.