Heritage body slam for bridge

Australia’s peak heritage protection body has slammed Vicroads’ plan to demolish Barwon Heads Bridge.
National Trust chief executive Martin Purslow said the plan was “contrary to heritage principles”.
“Since classifying the bridge (as heritage listed) in 1996, the National Trust has been deeply involved with the campaign to save it. This is not the best heritage outcome that was sought and recommended by the advisory committee,” Mr Purslow said.
Heritage Victoria gave Vicroads approval last week to build a new bridge downstream with an adjacent river crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
Mr Purslow also criticised the pedestrian bridge, saying it would “intrude on the key downstream views”.
“Even variations of the current proposal, such as rebuilding on the footprint of the existing bridge and relocating the new pedestrian bridge to the upstream side, would be improvements,” Mr Purslow said.
Vicroads plans need final approval from Victoria’s Planning Minister.
Vicroads said it needed a planning scheme amendment from Justin Madden to start work on the controversial $40 million project.
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 joined then-Planning Minister Rob Hulls to announce it would be saved.
A Heritage Victoria spokesperson said last week that upgrading the existing bridge would have been the “best outcome”.
“We allowed (the replacement) because Vicroads said it needed two-way traffic and that too much of the existing bridge was rotten,” the spokesperson said.
City of Greater Geelong council, Barwon Coast Committee of Management and community organisations opposed the Vicroads plan.
Friends of the Barwon Heads Bridge’s Bernard Napthine has labelled the Heritage Victoria approval “a very bad decision”.