The $400,000 footbridge you can’t run or cycle on

 

Photo: Harriet, Darci and Will with mums Nikki and Laura on the Newcastle Footbridge.

Council will discuss funding options  to fix the town’s ageing Newcastle Footbridge, which will now only be allowed to be used for walking.

Council voted to reopen the bridge to pedestrians, with no e-bikes, scooters, cycling or any other means of transport allowed.

The April report to council said there needed to be a long-term financial commitment from council to keep the bridge open and extend its life by 20 plus years through maintenance.

Council doesn’t support a 2% rate hike for a special bridge fund

The report proposed setting up a special reserve fund to repair and maintain the bridge from an extra two percent rate increase.

“It is recommended the shire begins reserving two percent of rates annually into a ring-fenced reserve account.”

But The Herald queried the lack of other funding options presented to councillors – as the report focused solely on an additional two per cent rate increase as a solution.

   The Herald asked why the report did not include other options such as seeking grants or external funding, establishing a reserve without increasing rates, or reprioritising existing spending within the current budget.

The funding proposal comes as council moves to reopen the footbridge to pedestrians only, subject to insurance requirements and the installation of signage warning of trip hazards.

The move to open the bridge welcomed but more information requested

The move to open the Newcastle foot bridge was welcomed by Newcastle Park parkrun member who made a statement at the council meeting.

“We are excited and supportive of the officer’s recommendation for option one, reopening the footbridge with appropriate signage and progressing decking replacement through the 2026-2027 budget.”

But local mum Laura told The Herald the community wanted more information about the cost of the bridge and why it was closed.

“We were not told how much the bridge was costing to keep open and it just shut one day,” she said.

“If they’re saying it cost ‘X amount’ to fix the bridge then give us a break down of the cost and justify the spending.”

Council votes to spend the money and consider the impact at budget time

While the two per cent increase, to be put into a reserve fund, was recommended by officers, council did not adopt this proposal.

Instead, council voted to proceed with a full bridge decking replacement, estimated at $270,000, to be funded through the annual budget.

Council also supported a staged approach to the repairs needed.

This included structural works – estimated at $120,000 to $150,000 – within five years.

Rather than introducing a rate rise, council unanimously agreed to consider the funding implications as part of the 2026–27 annual budget process.

It remains unclear whether a special reserve fund will be established as part of those discussions.

By Rashelle Predovnik