Upper Lachlan Council Pay Nothing Towards Collector Creek Crossing

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Upper Lachlan Council Pay Nothing Towards Collector Creek Crossing

During the The Upper Lachlan Council Collector Bridge replacement information session today, it was revealed that Council didn't put one dollar of rate-payer's money towards Collector's new Creek Crossing.

Approximately eighteen people attended the hastily-called meeting, with attendees including Phil Newham (ULSC Works Dept), Collector residents, individuals interested in purchasing the bridge timbers, and the journalist from the Bungendore Mirror.

Whilst the information session meeting was widely regarded as an exercise in futility by Collector residents that have been calling for real consultation regarding the replacement of the Collector Creek Bridge, the low number of attendees could possibly be attributed to the short (two day) notice period given by Council. In addition, the 4pm Friday meeting was held at a time when many interested parties were at work. (Collector residents contacted the Voice yesterday to express frustration at the meeting not being held on a weekend when most people were able to attend).

As the meeting was an "information session", consultation was not encouraged, and Phil stated that this was not a meeting to discuss the possibility of any changes to the plan. A few questions were asked by residents where possible, and the following points of interest were extracted from Phil Newham:

- The $220,000 budget for the new Collector Culvert cost was entirely Government funded - therefore, the Upper Lachlan Council contributed no money whatsoever towards the Collector Creek Bridge replacement (Council is matching dollar-for-dollar on all of the other new bridges being constructed across the Upper Lachlan Shire this year - the minimum contribution by council being $200,000+ for a $425,000 culvert, the largest being $850,000 for the Bigga bridge which Council are completely funding. It was pointed out to Council that none of these bridges were located in a town, as a town entrance, with residents in close proximity to the bridge. (To read more on these bridge budgets and locations, including their relation to ULS Councillor's residences, you can click here)

- Phil told residents that there was a possibility that people would have an increased tendency to speed across the new culvert, as it would be flat and not have the natural traffic-calming properties of the old bridge.

- The old bridge timbers are still going to go to public tender. Collector residents or organisations would be required to directly apply to, or lobby council for bridge timber donation consideration, or any percentage of proceeds from timber sales. Phil informed residents that normally, old timber bridge sales resulted in about $15,000. He also advised that at the current time, all funds from the sale would be used to cover any costs that council may incur over and above the $220,000 worth of funding. Phil estimated that they may well go $10,000 over funding. If this were the case, Council may profit $5,000+ from the Collector Creek bridge replacement (in addition to the in-house employment of council workers who are able to install culverts as small as Collector's).

- When asked how often the Collector Creek crossing would be cut off by floods in the future, Phil said "perhaps one or two times in the next twenty-five years". He was then reminded that the small flood that Collector experienced yesterday had possibly already breached the proposed new culvert level (almost a metre lower than the old bridge). Phil said that he had visited the Collector Creek site last night and the level was okay, however it was pointed out to him by residents that this was hours after the Collector Creek had peaked in the morning yesterday, and the water level had already significantly dropped by then. He asked residents how long it took for the Collector Creek to flood, and several residents looked surprised that Phil was unaware of Collector flood behaviour. They informed Phil that Collector usually experienced "flash floods", that rose and abated quickly.

Barbara Bryan, Collector creek-side resident specifically asked about how to get out during high floods, as the creek would be impassible due to the new culvert being 95cm lower than the old bridge. Phil told her that according to their flood report data she would be able to exit to the village - despite her asserting that such an option was impossible due to the depth and current that occurs at the village end of Murray Street.

Upon questioning, it was also admitted by Phil that Council had now decided to comply with Section 29 of the Roads Act, and were calling for public submissions regarding the plans to lower the level of the road in order to facilitate a low level culvert. Phil asserted that Council could still commence work changing the level of the road during the public submission period, as it could be built back up if it was ruled they were not legally allowed to. (To read about how the Collector Voice called for the ULSC to comply with the Road Act back in mid-July, with the threat of reporting them to the NSW Minister for Local Government, the NSW Ombudsman, the NSW Attorney General and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, you can click here)

Phil informed the meeting that work on the culvert would start "very soon, as soon as the water has dropped" and should be complete in time for next years Collector Pumpkin Festival in May (2011)

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