Ratepayer wants compensation for lengthy bridge closure

NEARLY three years will have passed when the Pollocksford Road Bridge reopens to vehicles, and a Gnarwarre resident wants compensation for the lack of access.

When Dean Harvey bought his horse farm about 12 years ago, he could cross the Barwon River using the nearby bridge, but has had to make lengthy detours for every trip since the bridge’s closure in April 2024.

This has increased the time and fuel cost of all of his journeys every day since then, including to and from Geelong, Inverleigh and Bannockburn.

Harvey said the closure also affected vets going to and from his property.

Heavy trucks using the bridge despite a load limit and speed restrictions led to the Surf Coast Shire closing the bridge to all traffic.

A reopening date has been repeatedly pushed back, with the shire citing the need for specialist engineering work.

Harvey requested a 50 per cent rates discount in recognition of one of the two access roads to his property being closed.

He has repeatedly pursued the shire for some consideration of his problem, so far without success.

“I understand they’ve got to fix things, but if they’re going to close something, they’ve got to have a plan and to fix it in a certain timeframe, not just sit there and have it closed for close to three years and just go ‘Sorry, bad luck’,” he said.

In an email to Harvey last week, the shire’s senior project manager of capital and operational projects

Chris Leonard said tenders for the bridge works closed on 3 June with a practical completion date of 28 February 2027, subject to the specific requirements of the successful tenderer.

Harvey is sceptical this timeline will be met.

“They’re saying February now, which I don’t believe. They’ve just put it off so many times,” he said.

The shire’s general manager of placemaking and environment, Chris Pike, said the shire understood the bridge closure had been challenging for nearby residents and had added to travel times.

“However, the council is unable to provide rates discounts in response to temporary road closures or changes to access,” he said.

“Rates are collected to fund a wide range of services, infrastructure and facilities across the shire and are not linked to the use of individual roads or assets. The council’s hardship policy was designed to support ratepayers experiencing financial hardship.”

Pike did not give a date for when the bridge would reopen.

He said repairs were being assessed and the council was expected to consider awarding a contract for the works at a coming meeting.

“Once a contractor is appointed, a detailed construction timeline will be developed and shared with the community,” he said.