Bridges over troubled waters (Dec 2025 edition)

Council also approved option one as the preferred option of a single lane bridge to include footpath and requested the CEO seek an urgent meeting with the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government requesting funding support.

Adding to the bridge woes, the Newcastle Park footbridge, a key access route for pedestrians, especially schoolchildren, was closed last month by the shire for safety reasons due to vandalism and deterioration of ageing boards.

A shire community notice dated November 26 said, “The Shire is sourcing weather-resistant, long-lasting boards to replace all affected sections.

These materials are not available in WA and must be ordered from interstate.

At this stage, the commencement date for the project is yet to be confirmed.”

Contractors from Reliable Asset Maintenance were observed by the Herald’s editor on November 27 replacing the affected boards with locally sourced materials – seemingly contrary to earlier shire advice.

At the council meeting last month President McKeown said the footbridge repairs were a “work in progress” – subsequently suggesting in his Herald November column that the bridge may be re-opened in early December.

The current version of the Newcastle Park footbridge was opened in December 2011, utilizing composite plastic and wood decking after the previous bridge was closed in 2010 due to safety concerns.

The 2011 rebuild cost approximately $1 million with funding coming from the “Royalties for Regions” program.

The original footbridge dated back to 1950, with responsibility for the bridge passing from the then Education Department of Western Australia to the Shire in 2001.

The Toodyay Shire Council faces a daunting challenge in addressing the deteriorating condition of its bridge infrastructure.

Securing funding, prioritising projects, and preventing further damage through vandalism will be crucial to ensuring the safety and connectivity of the Toodyay community.