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Post by Ric on Jun 29, 2014 10:33:50 GMT 10
I have read elsewhere that the new bridge over the Shoalhaven at Oallen is due to start construction on 8th August. I don't know much about it but I'm sure it will impact on prospecting activities in the area during construction. Edit: Just found an article in the Goulburn Post. Apparently it will only take 20 weeks to build  but there will be road closures for 12 weeks so I read. www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/2269661/funds-flood-in-for-oallen-ford-bridge/Cheers Ric |
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Post by Rowdy on Jun 29, 2014 16:40:57 GMT 10
What's the bet they use it as an excuse to make access to the sand areas impossible or very difficult.
Rowdy
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Post by shivan on Jun 29, 2014 20:12:52 GMT 10
G'day Rowdy, that is one of my concerns. They are raising the height of the bridge, so access to it will be higher up on both banks. Would not be to hard to restrict car access to the top areas that are fenced.
It is a very popular area though aside from prospectors and an access point for canoes coming down from stuarts crossing or heading down river, so fingers crossed they leave access as it is.
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Post by backcreek on Jul 20, 2014 17:01:48 GMT 10
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Post by shivan on Aug 17, 2014 20:59:14 GMT 10
I read something interesting the other day and just saw it posted elsewhere. Does this mean the end of digging out at the ford because of native title?
"Fossicking can be done on land or waters subject to native title using hand held implements, which
include picks, shovels, hammers, sieves, shakers and gold pans. However, regardless of the
implements used, no excavation is permitted."
"Council halts work on Oallen Ford Bridge
Goulburn Mulwaree Council General Manager Warwick Bennett is halting work on the replacement of the Oallen Ford Bridge after he discovered the proposed bridge was not on the Road Reserve and that important negotiations with Aboriginal Lands Councils had not been completed as part of the project.
Mr Bennett said he was left with no option but to suspend the work, following his discovery that the land on which the proposed bridge was to be located on both sides of the Shoalhaven River, is subject to an Aboriginal land claim.
“My review of the project has revealed that the land on which we were planning this new bridge and access way was not on Council’s Road Reserve and for making these basic errors I apologise to the Council and the community,” Mr Bennett said.
He said Council would undertake consultation with the affected groups, including the Pejar and Ulladulla Local Aboriginal Lands Council as well as the NSW Aboriginal Lands Council.
“Upon review of the project, I have discovered that we have not done our investigations properly and I apologise to the affected community,” Mr Bennett said.
Mr Bennett said a positive coming out of the discovery was that it was made before any construction work had begun on site.
“No construction work has begun on site. We have caught this in time to remedy the situation and will now begin to either negotiate with the affected groups, or redesign the process within the existing road reserve,” he said.
“It would have been much worse to have made this discovery when half the bridge was built across the river, but unfortunately this discovery will now delay the project. The bottom line is that we should have found this out three years ago in the early stages of the planning.
Mr Bennett said a briefing was held with all Councillors at 5pm last night to discuss the full ramifications of the discovery.
“Councillors were fully informed of the situation last night during a briefing,” he said.
“The two options that we need to investigate will include keeping it all within the existing Road Reserve boundary, or the other option would be that we remain on the proposed alignment and we negotiate with all Land Councils and other key stakeholders.”
“Construction on the bridge was due to commence this week. I have put a delay on that process and I will keep the community informed as to when this project is likely to commence but it is unlikely it will commence this calendar year.”
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Post by Ric on Aug 17, 2014 23:29:09 GMT 10
Yeah Shivan, read this today also, It will be interesting to see where this goes, how long it takes and how many lawyers add to their retirement fund by dragging it further than necessary  This is a situation where common sense should prevail and the bridge be allowed to go ahead as is. |
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