Southern Downs Regional Council resolved on Tuesday to pursue a low level crossing to replace Kital Road bridge near Allora by negotiating with the State Government on environmental issues that are impacting the project.
Design investigations have found that a low level crossing may not meet requirements for clear fish passage under the Fisheries Act 1994.
The unsound Kital Road timber bridge has been closed to traffic since December 8, 2008.
The 2011/2012 capital budget has $300,000 allocated from the Federal Roads to Recovery Program for the removal of Kital Road bridge and replacement with a low level crossing.
Should a low level crossing be ruled out on environmental grounds, the council will need to find an additional $120,000 to build a medium level bridge, the next most cost effective option.
Officers also recommended that the bridge not be replaced at all, due to low usage, with traffic count in August 2008, prior to closure, showing that just 12.6 vehicles per day crossed the bridge.
However in Tuesday’s meeting, councillors made it clear that a crossing of some kind over Dalrymple Creek was needed on this road.
“The intent of the council is to construct a crossing,” Southern Downs Regional Mayor Ron Bellingham said. “It is a question of what kind of crossing, at what cost.”
After much debate, the council resolved to negotiate further with the State Government over fish passage requirements for a low level crossing to replace the bridge.
This decision will be further discussed at the council’s general meeting on Wednesday.
Previous council consideration
The Kital Road bridge issue has been considered by the council on a number of occasions since late 2008:
■ November 2008 – Petition regarding Kital Road bridge closure
■ January 2009 – Preliminary cost estimate for low level crossing
■ February 2009 – Councillor inspection of Kital Road bridge
■ June 2009 – Project to replace Kital Road bridge with low level crossing included in 2009/10 capital budget
■ August 2010 – Further report considering options for replacement of Kital Road bridge
■ April 2011 – cancelled capital allocation in major capital budget reallocation
■ June 2011 – allocation of $300,000 included in 2011/2012 capital budget
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