Icon promise turns to Jelly MPs ‘tear up’ bridge pledge

Jessica Benton
STATE Government has broken a pre-election promise to save iconic Barwon Heads Bridge, according to a community group.
Friends of the Barwon Heads Bridge’s Bernard Napthine said the Government had “misled” the community after Vicroads released a new plan yesterday to demolish and replace the bridge.
“It’s all very misleading,” Mr Napthine said.
“I misinterpreted the initial information and thought the proposal looked a good compromise because it seemed Vicroads was putting the heritage-listed bridge as the main focus and saving it. Now when we read the finer details we find this is far from the truth.
“It all sounded like a rebuild but now it’s more like a reconstruction and an adaptation.”
Vicroads’ $40 million new plan proposes a new bridge six metres downstream. A separate walking and cycling bridge would run alongside further downstream.
Vicroads would demolish the existing bridge after completing the new bridges.
Vicroards’ Duncan Elliott said the new plan would seek to use material from the old bridge in its replacement.
However, he said most of the existing bridge’s components had “reached their use-by date”.
Mr Napthine said the new plan would also replace beachfront and car parks.
“About 20 metres of beachfront, about half the car park opposite the pub and a lot of public access to the beach and river will be lost,” he said.
“I might have put up with this if we we’re going to keep the old bridge but we’re not.”
The Independent revealed in 2005 that the crumbling bridge was “doomed” but in the lead-up to the 2006 election local MPs including Michael Crutchfield and Lisa Neville said it would be saved.
Mr Crutchfield attributed the announcement to “good old-fashioned community spirit”, while Ms Neville said the bridge would “always be there for future generations”.
Then-Planning Minister Rob Hulls referred to television character Bob Jelly, who had the bridge condemned in Sea Change, when crediting lobbying pressure from the MPs for saving the bridge.
“Not even Bob Jelly would have stood a change against (the) local members,” Mr Hulls said in 2006.
A spokesperson for Mr Crutchfield yesterday denied the 2006 promise had misled voters.
“We now have to look at the whole process,” the spokesperson said.
“Residents have previously raised concerns but I think you’ll see they have welcomed this new plan.
“A lot has changed since 2006 with the bridge and that’s obviously why Vicroads has released this new plan.”
Ms Neville had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press yesterday.
The spokesperson encouraged residents to lodge submissions on the new plan with Hertiage Victoria, which would have to approve the demolition.
Mr Napthine urged residents to attend a public meeting on the plan 7pm on June 18 at Barwon Heads Community Hall