Bridge cash threat

Jessica Benton
STATE Government has threatened to withdraw funding for a new Barwon Heads Bridge if objectors continue fighting replacement plans, according to a community group.
Friends of Barwon Heads Bridge vice-president Paul Fox said Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas issued the threat during a meeting at Parliament House last week.
Mr Fox said Mr Pallas told representatives of the group he was fed-up with delays in replacing the bridge and a substantial cost increase after the failure of Vicroads’ first replacement plan.
“He said he was so fed up with the project that he wasn’t going to listen to any more proposals and was going to authorise Vicroads to go ahead with the process as is,” Mr Fox said.
“Mr Pallas acknowledged the next process had to go through Planning Minister Justin Madden but said if it wasn’t approved the Government would take their money and go elsewhere.”
The group met Mr Pallas seeking the Government to revert to a single bridge rather than approve Vicroads’ new $40 million plan for separate vehicle and pedestrian bridges.
Heritage Victoria gave Vicroads approval in August to build a new bridge six metres downstream with an adjacent pedestrian river crossing.
Vicroads prepared the two-bridge plan after Heritage Victoria rejected an initial proposal for a single bridge for vehicles and pedestrians.
Residents have opposed the separate pedestrian bridge, fearing impacts including environmental damage to Ocean Grove Spit and loss of car parking spaces at Barwon Heads.
Mr Fox said Mr Pallas’ frustration was ironic given the bridge replacement was a “government-run” process.
Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson said Mr Pallas had displayed arrogance with his “bullyboy tactics” against Barwon Heads.
“Tim Pallas seems to resent the fact the people of Barwon Heads even have the democratic nerve to express their views,” he said.
“Minister Pallas spat the dummy during the meeting…threatening in a fit of pique to take his monetary marbles and go home…but the people of Barwon Heads have quite rightly refused to be browbeaten by Minister Pallas.”
A spokesperson for Mr Pallas refused to answer questions from the Independent about the meeting.