No one denies the old Nowra bridge symbolises our city. It features regularly in photographs of the river and most of us can’t imagine life without it. It is, after all, a part of our history.
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Likewise, no one denies the old bridge is nearing the end of its useful life, which is why the NSW government is moving ahead with plans to replace it – and calling on the federal government to help with funding a new crossing to the west of the existing northbound bridge.
While there had been a muted conversation about the future of the old bridge, no one expected the announcement made by Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis at the Shoalhaven River Festival on Saturday. Despite the bridge being the responsibility of the NSW Government, Mrs Sudmalis told the crowd the old bridge was staying. No mention was made of who would pay for its upkeep.
Apart from the incandescent irritation among her NSW parliamentary colleagues at being gazumped by the federal MP who made the announcement prematurely, questions are being asked about who is going to pay for the upkeep of the old bridge and how much it will cost.
One fear is that the state asset will be handed to Shoalhaven City Council and the cost of its upkeep will fall on the shoulders of already stressed ratepayers.
Mrs Sudmalis has washed her hands of any talk of maintenance costs; federal funds paid for feasibility studies into the new crossing and the future of the old one. Ongoing costs were not her issue, she said.
So what are the costs? To demolish and remove the old bridge would cost between $10-20 million. To fix the host of problems with it would cost up to $25 million. To maintain it as a pedestrian bridge capable of holding events would cost $300,000 a year for the next 50 years.
It is highly unlikely the NSW Government would opt to hold on to an asset destined to become a walkway and event venue, so the cost would inevitably come back to council. And that means us ratepayers would foot the bill.
So we have to ask ourselves whether we are prepared to pay that extra cost. Is saving the old bridge more important than getting on with other, more strategic infrastructure?
It’s a hard question to answer. Our fondness for this symbol of Nowra is totally understandable – it is a key landmark. The community needs to have a good look in the mouth of this gifthorse.
