Bridge ‘own goal’ averted

By Chris Thomson | posted on July 19, 2018

IN THE same week the FIFA World Cup was emphatically decided, opponents of a second traffic bridge over the Denmark River scored a resounding 7-1 victory as Shire councillors booted the political football deep back into State Government territory.

On Tuesday night, Shire President Ceinwen Gearon was a late omission from Denmark’s monthly Council meeting, citing urgent personal reasons. Substitute chair Peter Caron was, on several occasions, moved to quash applause from the
capacity crowd.

Ahead of the chamber-room match-up, between councillors opposing the bridge and those in support, Shire CEO Bill Parker recommended the State be told Denmark was “unable” to deliver the project for lack of funds. Mr Parker had recommended the State assume control and build the bridge using $4,291,000 Royalties for Regions money earmarked for the project.

He advised the Shire would otherwise be required to identify a $3.1 million funding partner and contribute a further $1.51 million to the project that includes the $4.83
million bridge, land acquisition, road, fences and consultants.

“This represents three years’ of Roads to Recovery funding,” he continued.

“The $1,510,000 earmarked for this project is desperately needed to address the Shire’s [roads] renewal backlog.”

But in a dig to keep the cash for Denmark, Councillor Kingsley Gibson moved and Cr Jan Lewis seconded that the Shire negotiate with the State to repurpose the funding, preferably for upgrades to infrastructure at Greens Pool.

“We don’t need it, we can’t afford it,” Cr Gibson said of the bridge.

In a pre-siren twist, Cr Ian Osborne launched an amendment motion – that the State deliver the bridge in accordance with Denmark’s shire plan – which includes a crossing at the contentious East River site.

He said an East River bridge was in the plan for good reasons, including its proximity to town and there having been a bridge there previously.

In a major assist that helped Cr Gibson push his motion over the line, Cr Lewis chimed in from the chambers’ left wing.

“There was not a lot of science behind that particular part of the Local Planning Strategy,” she countered.

Cr Rob Whooley, the Shire’s former chief engineer, said the crossing had not been in the plan “forever anyway”.

“We may be many years and years, if not decades, away from needing another bridge and I think we should leave [Cr Gibson’s] resolution as it is,” he vollied.

But Crs Osborne and Roger Seeney were not going down without a fight.

“The reality is the Government is not going to switch funding to Greens Pool,” Cr Osborne said.

“I will go to my grave to fight [an alternative] southern [bridge] option.”

Cr Seeney said the bridge was required as a second evacuation route, as Denmark had been assessed as having the highest fire risk in Western Australia.

In true underdog style, Cr Allen closed with a partial quote from The Castle and the lawyer of lead character Darryl Kerrigan.

“The vibe of this traffic study is we do need a bridge but we don’t need it now,” he reasoned.

Cr Gibson’s motion was passed seven councillors to one, with only Cr Seeney voting against.