Here are a couple of many reasons why the Cambroon Bridge is condemned.
This shows what little maintenance has been done in the past
and we have all been driving over it
It is hoped to be open for light vehicle traffic in about three weeks
Ron
That definitely looks in bad need of an upgrade, I don't think it would survive a flash flood.
We had one done this way and the local govt closed it for about 9 months while they made up their minds as to what to do but the poor beggars on the wrong side were driving up to a 90km round trip just to get to work.
That definitely looks in bad need of an upgrade, I don't think it would survive a flash flood.
We had one done this way and the local govt closed it for about 9 months while they made up their minds as to what to do but the poor beggars on the wrong side were driving up to a 90km round trip just to get to work.
Hope your not in the same position.
Ric We only have to drive 40kms round trip with the bridge out, which is bad enough but 90kms would would drive me extra
Ron
There is a meeting tomorrow morning with the local area councilor and three engineers with the people of Cambroon at 09:00 down at the bridge, but it may be not well attended as people have to go to work, but as I said to a couple of people who said they might not come , if you don't turn up then don't expect anything to happen
We need as many people as possible to attend
Ron
Here are a couple of many reasons why the Cambroon Bridge is condemned.
This shows what little maintenance has been done in the past
and we have all been driving over it
It is hoped to be open for light vehicle traffic in about three weeks
Ron
Obviously the timbers have rotted. It looks like there may be a second problem. Have the piers migrated downstream over time? I've seen this before. If the piers are just sitting in the stream sediment they slowly move downstream as the sediment moves. You bridge will develop a curve because the middle moves while the ends stay fixed. It can look real spectacular - from the safety of the bank.
You may be right, but it also doesn't help much when you have had logs weighing upto 3 tons and rubbish backed by millions of gallons of water pushing against it.
In 2002 water was over 3mts over the bridge.
Ron
You may be right, but it also doesn't help much when you have had logs weighing upto 3 tons and rubbish backed by millions of gallons pushing against it.
In 2002 water was over 3mts over the bridge.
Ron
Yep, the curve is pretty obvious. They didn't build it that way.
We had a meeting with the local councilor and senior engineer on Thursday attended by about 30-40 locals.
After much discussion and explanation of of the situation,the engineer said that the bridge will be open to light traffic, that is vehicles upto 2.5-3 ton in about four weeks,It will take that long to get the material and do the repairs.
It will then be upto the council in June when the engineers present their report to council as to what the final outcome,either build a new bridge or some other alternative not yet decided upon
The next Cambroon observing Night is Saturday the 3rd of Mayso you will still have to come the long way round if you are coming from the Kenilworth direction.
There is no difference if coming from Brisbane
Ron
Looks like a few of the bridges round here Ron.. maybe a little better
than some .... A friend was parked at a red light a couple of weeks back at a repair ..the backhoe crossing the bridge in front of him went straight through.. the only thing that saved him was the raised front bucket snagged a cross beam as it went down .
Has the local govt made redundant the bridge crews in your area ?
Its quite a specialty work area .. A few local guys here that work within it are flat out all the time
Talking to one of them a while back he wasn't sure what the long term plans were ..as they hadn't been takeing on new apprentices for a few years ..Its like the bean counters can see a big cost saving in regard ..but don't fathom
what a vital service a bridge means to a comunity .
The engineer said that the council only provides $1.5 million per year for bridge repair/maintainance and with our bridge costing an estimated $2.5million,and with 17 other wooden bridges in need of replacement/repair, the money just wont stretch that far, so we will have to see what the decision will be in June.
Ron
They say the same down here regarding basic infastructure spending
hopefully theres some dollars around budget time to replace it Ron
I wouldn't count on it though improving traffic flow in the metro areas
probably swallows a couple of million an hour.
Richmond Valley Council have a unique way of cost cutting that I really think
will end up with them being sued.
The first bridge coming into Coombell, it's only a small bridge, probably only
10' across. But when it was replace they lowered it in height. Now the
bridge goes under before the creek can breach it's banks. It causes water
to back then over the top it goes. Breaches into paddocks up stream and
now risks endangering live stock. We were trapped in Coombell twice over
Xmas. Actually you can tell they lowered it by the fact now you dip down
as you drive over it, before I never used to know the bridge was there
until they replaced it to how it is now. The council refuse to admit they
lowered it saying they keep it at the height it was before, where clearly
it is not. The road way should have a 3tn limit, but no apparrently the
cattle mob that moved the cattle into the plantation (you know the
corporation type farmer) they lobbied the council to remove the limit
now we have cattle semi-trailers coming up an down it which has damaged
the road to the point in some place you cant see the original road it's
just a bunch of patches.
Another case and worst IMO. Is the bridge on the southern end of Rappville
heading out to Wyan. They replaced it last year doing the same thing. The
bridge along with the road leading to and from it cuts through a friends
property. He used to be able to ride his horse under it's. He can barely
stand under it himself now. Still the council say's it was built to the previous height.
But here to we all notice the dip. Even one of the workers told my friend
they had to grade the road down to meet the bridge. Btw, the previous
bridge was easily in a similar condition to Ron's. When it flooded over
last Xmas the bridge now works like a dam. Completely wiping out the up
stream side of my friends property. Actually it back up so much the Pub,
sawmill and several houses on the northern end of Rappville nearly went
under water. Yet the Council again will hear none of it, stating the bridge
was rebuilt to the previous specs. Which clearly it's not, it forced the
closure for several days of a $40 million sawmill operation in Wyan. Becuase
logging trucks could no longer get through. These bridges act like dams
now in floods closing roads longer.
So landowners in the Richmond Valley Council area. Expect your rates to
skyrocket in years to come as the Council maybe be forced by litigation
to payout landowners and businesses for damages to they properties or
profits due to their inapropriate works and what we see as cost cutting.
Especially when you see the new $3.5 million council building, all the roads
that are being fixed in Casino. But nothing for the rate payers out here
and they are getting up in arms about it.
Rob, thanks for a very interesting post most of the things you mention are repeated here 1e, Damming, erosion,
and not wanting to spend any money.
The bridge was originaly a 60Ton bridge, then it was reduced to 10Ton but as you can see in the photo's very little maintainance was done and that is why we are in the present situation
One of the things that is different is that IF they rebuild they want to raise it 2mts., it rearly wont make much difference as all the local creeks crossings go underwater so we can't get out anyway
The ;last council spent $14000,000 on a development at Kings Beach Caloundra,with $4,000,000 on a swimming pool, when there was already one there
Ron
**Snippet**
The last council spent $14000,000 on a development at Kings Beach Caloundra,with $4,000,000 on a swimming pool, when there was already one there
Ron
Gees that would have to make you feel like the council just doesn't give a damn. And isn't it rude, recreation at a tourist destination seems more important than proper infrastructure for people living in rural areas.
From King Ron OF Cambroon
![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
so you will still have to come the long way round if you are coming from the Kenilworth direction.
Rob, thanks for a very interesting post
., it rearly wont make much difference as all the local creeks crossings go underwater so we can't get out anyway
