General News
4 July, 2023
Rail trail bridge contract awarded
CORANGAMITE Shire Council has awarded the contract for the replacement of two bridges on the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail.
CORANGAMITE Shire Council has awarded the contract for the replacement of two bridges on the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail.
At last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, council voted to award the contract to Ontrack Civil Earthworks at a cost of $762,978.76.
A section of the popular rail trail was recently closed to allow time for temporary repairs on the impacted bridges.
Manager facilities and recreation Jarrod Woff said in 2019, a masterplan for the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail was developed outlining the current condition of the existing bridges.
“This plan engaged with key stakeholders to understand the issues, confirm functional requirements and ultimately highlighted the requirement for five bridges to be replaced along the trail,” he said in his report to council.
“A detailed design for each of the five bridges (11 to 15) was undertaken and council, in partnership with the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail Committee, federal and state governments replaced bridges 11 and 12 in 2022.
“Council and the committee have continued to work in partnership to secure additional funding to replace the remaining three bridges, to ensure that the trail remains accessible for users.
“In 2023, funding has been secured to replace bridges 14 and 15, while further advocacy works are being undertaken to secure funding to replace bridge 13.”
Mr Woff said funding for the replacement of bridges 14 and 15 has been secured through DEECA, Regional Development Victoria, Corangamite Shire Council and the trail committee to undertake the construction of these two bridges.
Councillor Kate Makin said everything possible needed to be done to keep the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail open.
“These bridges are vitally important and it’s great that we have got a contractor out there that is happy to take on this work,” she said.
“It is great these bridges are being replaced.
“It’s good for the rail trail.”
Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail Committee chair Pat Robertson welcomed the news.
“We’re delighted it’s been awarded,” she said.
“It will be done in summer in January or February.
“The trail will probably only be closed for the two to three weeks.”
Mrs Robertson said DEECA have put in for some funding for bridge 13 also.