During its February meeting, council opted to approve a motion for the conditional re-allocation of $1 million from deferred projects and savings to the restoration of the historic bridge.
This money will be part of council’s federal government grant application for the bridge’s rehabilitation, coming nearly four years after its closure following the 2022 floods.
The contribution is necessary for a $5 million co-contribution from the federal government.
Speaking at the meeting on February 17, Cr Fiona Stevens said having the capacity to provide these funds was an opportunity council couldn’t pass up.
“You cannot let opportunities like this go by. If we can get our hands on $5 million by committing $1 million, it would be negligent not to do that,” she said.
Cr Clark Holloway said it was “a smart move”.
“This is the first step towards a proper, sound, workable solution to the problem of connectivity for the community of Kirwans Bridge,” he said.
“This will hopefully put an end to this community being perpetually disadvantaged.”
Kirwans Bridge resident and Go Nagambie committee member Robyn Taylor has been a strong advocate for the rehabilitation of the bridge in the early days of its closure.
Like others in the community, she’s endured years without safe and streamlined access into Nagambie, having to take back roads to acquire groceries and attend appointments.
She attended the February meeting and said she and other community members were pleased by council’s decision.
“We were over the moon,” she said.
“We had our fingers crossed because we just didn’t know which way it would go, so we’re very excited.”
With the application process now under way, Ms Taylor said she was hopeful that the community would be awarded the $5 million co-contribution.
Thanks to advocacy from federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, council staff and councillors, and the community, she said she was just waiting for the news that the application was approved.
“It’s going to be a really, really polished application – we’ve ticked all the right boxes,” she said.
Community group Go Nagambie, she said, had also offered significant support to the community.
“Go Nagambie accepted us with open arms because the High St (Nagambie) traders were missing out on millions of dollars a year in revenue, so it was a no-brainer,” she said.
“It was through the clout and the strength of Go Nagambie that the community actually got a say – a real say.”
Now, as the community waits for the final verdict from the federal government, Ms Taylor said the community continued to be “glass half full people”.
“If we don’t get the confirmation of the funds, then the $1 million will go back into other (council) projects, but we don’t think that’s going to happen,” she said.
“It’s another step forward in a long journey of three and a half years, but it feels like a giant leap.”
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