Community
25 September, 2024
Princetown bridge developers to get grant money
CORANGAMITE Shire Council has approved the transfer of $700,000 to Princetown Eco-Stay developer, Montarosa Pty Ltd.
Shire manager assets planning John Kelly said Corangamite Shire was successful in 2019 in obtaining a $700,000 grant as contribution towards the upgrade of the Old Coach Road bridge in Princetown.
He said the old bridge had a narrow 4.2m width deck with deteriorated timber columns and piers, and a load limit of 15 tonnes had become an ongoing maintenance issue for council.
“The new concrete bridge is being constructed as one of the conditions of the planning permit for the Princetown Eco-Stay Development, and will be wide enough for two-way vehicle traffic and includes a separate shared pathway with no load limit,” Mr Kelly said in his report to council.
“The $700,000 grant to be received by council at the completion of construction of the upgrade of the Old Coach Road ridge is required to be transferred to the Princetown Eco-Stay developer, Montarosa Pty Ltd, who has undertaken the bridge works.
“It is anticipated that the new bridge will be completed and opened to traffic in the coming months.”
Mr Kelly said before council can accept the handover of the bridge asset, the developer must provide a certification from a structural engineer.
“Before the council can accept the handover of the bridge asset, the developer must provide a certification from a structural engineer,” he said.
“This certification must confirm that the bridge construction has been completed according to the approved plans and is suitable for use according to the Road Management Act 2004 requirements.”
Mr Kelly said it was appropriate for council to transfer the funds to the developer who has “undertaken the works at their costs”.
Councillors went to lengths to remind residents the bridge project was not council’s and the works were being done by a private developer.
Cr Jamie Vogels said council was only a “conduit” for the $700,000 grant.
“Whether you agree with the development or not, the application for funding was done well before this council,” he said.
“The upgrade to the bridge was a condition of the planning permit for the Montarosa development and the responsibility of the works is wholly on the developer.
“I’ll be happy when the bridge is finally finished and the temporary bridge is removed from the wetlands at Princetown.”
Mayor Kate Makin said the bridge permit conditions still needed to be met.
“I just want to make it perfectly clear that this money will not be handed over until all conditions are met that are on the application that are stated quite clearly,” she said.
“So you can rest assure that we will be checking to make sure all those requirements are met to ensure the bridge is in tip top shape.”