After a lengthy discussion during the council meeting on Monday, July 21, councillors opted to maintain the bridge in its current state to meet Heritage Victoria requirements, but complete no further restoration works.
Against the adopted amendment, moved by Cr Bob Cornish, were Cr Claudia James and Cr Andrea Pace, who herself moved an amendment to pursue the necessary waterproofing works, expand the Goulburn River precinct business case to include an assessment of the bridge’s potential, and to seek external funding for restoration.
Cr Pace said she was unhappy with the outcome of the votes.
“I just want to say that I’m extremely disappointed that my fellow councillors don’t think that Seymour is worthy of a full business plan, and think 50 per cent will cut it,” she said.
Seymour local Carolynne Burgess-Blackwell, who has long been vocal about the bridge’s potential for the town, said she, too, was disheartened by the result.
“We’ve been asking for decades, and they still, every alternate lot of new councillors that gets in, still refuses to see what Seymour could be with some money spent on the river precinct,” Ms Burgess-Blackwell said.
“We have a strong volunteer base here in Seymour that do amazing things, they fundraise the hell out of themselves.
“We know what we can do with the backing of council, but council haven’t involved the community to fundraise for the bridge.”
After council voted to carry Cr Cornish’s amendment, Cr Ned Jeffrey moved an alternative motion to advise Heritage Victoria of council’s intention to pursue demolition of the bridge, and commence planning for a single structure using salvaged timber to act as a commemoration of the heritage-listed structure.
“If we continue as we are at the moment, the costs every year for this council and beyond are going to continue to evolve and grow, year-on-year,” Cr Jeffrey said.
“Under our current motion, we have the potential for a large flood to come ... For all we know, the bridge could literally be destroyed tomorrow.
“When the next flood comes, the bridge is in such a poorly state that there will be no established monument to what is the old Hume Fwy.”
Council voted against this alternative motion.
In maintaining the bridge’s current state without pursing further restoration works, the cost to council is estimated to be $200,000, compared to the estimated $262,000 put forth by Cr Pace’s amendment.
Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said, in making its decision, council set out to limit the financial burden for ratepayers.
“Council’s decision to maintain the Old Goulburn River Bridge in its current condition ensures the structure is preserved safely and sustainably, without proceeding with a costly full restoration,” Cr Dougall said.
“This approach allows council to meet its heritage conservation obligations while avoiding further financial burden on all Mitchell Shire ratepayers.
“Council is open to working with other levels of government or community-led initiatives, provided any proposal is viable, aligns with heritage requirements, and does not place additional pressure on council’s budget.”
Ms Burgess-Blackwell said, while it was exhausting, her fight for the bridge was not over yet.
“As a volunteer, I’m tired of work, work, work towards creating a better Seymour and then our councillors can’t see what, as a community, we’re trying to achieve,” she said.
“But if it’s 10 years, or 15 years, or 20 years down the road, we still need to make the precinct nice.”
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