Tooleybuc locals promised a new bridge a decade ago still make do with heritage-listed timber bridge, but planned six-week closure of it will impact the community significantly
Located on the Murray River, Tooleybuc is hitting back against the New South Wales government’s decision to shut the Tooleybuc Bridge for six weeks for repair works.
The heritage-listed timber truss bridge may look outdated, but it doubles up as a key Murray River crossing and a main freight route between Sydney and Adelaide.
Originally Transport for NSW slated it to be closed in 2012 and 2013 so a new bridge could be built in the small border town, but in 2019 the NSW government ruled the Tooleybuc Bridge as one of eight timber truss road bridges in the state that could be upgraded instead.
Under a NSW government review, it recommended retaining the bridge with Transport NSW investigating ways to strengthen the bridge so trucks carrying heavier loads could cross without damaging the structure.
These investigations resulted in a plan for the bridge to be closed for six weeks from May 23 so upgrades can secure the foundations of the timber truss bridge, with works including installing steel piles and trestles to support and strengthen the bridge.
Although this should be a cause for celebration for many locals, Murray MP Helen Dalton is instead leading a charge of furious local citizens.
Dalton says on her Facebook page that she recently attended an emergency meeting in Tooleybuc with around one third of the town’s population to discuss the NSW government’s decision to shut the bridge for repairs.
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She says the township is “furious” about the lack of preparation, as many Tooleybuc residents say it limits local businesses.
“This will devastate the Tooleybuc Sporting Club, Tooleybuc Motel and all tourism businesses who are still reeling from COVID border closures,” Dalton says.
“This NSW government could easily have done repairs when the border was closed but didn’t.
“Worse still, the promised new bridge seems off the radar.”
Dalton says she is intent on acting, having reached out to NSW transport minister Sam Farraway to reiterate that Tooleybuc can’t afford another bridge closure that limits businesses.
For Dalton and Tooleybuc, they want the NSW government to go back to a flood solution to help curb the impact of the bridge’s closure.
In 2011 the government built an army bridge in two days for Barham during the floods, with Tooleybuc wanting them to do the same to help their community.
“They need to do the same to save this community,” Dalton says.
“The NSW government must now come up with an alternative urgently as Tooleybuc won’t be able to cope with six weeks of being cut off from tourists.”