Seagull Paddock main bridge has been closed to ensure public safety.
The bridge near Birdwood Avenue has reached end of life. We can
no longer keep it safe for public use and have removed it.
Like many
organisations, we are facing heavy financial pressure
due to rising costs, inflation, and the financial uncertainty the world has
faced since the COVID pandemic.
Specifically, construction sector costs climbed
throughout the 2022-2023 financial year, creating a shortfall of around $130
million in our previously budgeted four-year capital projects
program. As a result, we have had to place many projects that appeared in
previous budgets, on hold including this one.
Our 2023-2024 budget has been an
extremely challenging budget to put together, with a number of very difficult
decisions. Our projects and services are under enormous pressure, meaning we had to focus on financial sustainability and what
we can afford. We will continue to work with all the relevant people to find future
affordability for delivering this project.
In the interim, pedestrians and cyclists can cross Cowies Creek
at Melbourne Road and near the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.
If you choose to use the bridges near the Wathaurong Aboriginal
Co-operative take a close look at them. Those
bridges are made from a world-first geopolymer, which are designed to be
maintenance-free for at least 100 years.
The new geopolymer is extremely long-lasting and uses up to 80
percent less greenhouse gases in production than concrete.