Federal Page MP Kevin Hogan (Nationals) joined with Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland yesterday to open the upgraded Minneys Bridge in Kyogle, which had been closed to traffic for two years.
Mr Hogan said the reopening was ‘a great outcome for the community’.
‘It is wonderful to see this bridge operating once again. I was determined to make sure the Kyogle community got this vital bridge replaced and today I am happy to announce that has been achieved,’ Mr Hogan said.
Despite having the largest number of bridges of any shire in NSW, Kyogle missed out completely on funding from the Coalitions in augural Bridges for the Bush round in 2014.
But following Mr Hogan’s intervention with infrastructure and regional development minister Warren Truss, the federal government found funding of $220,000 to replace the bridge.
‘Since the bridge’s closure in February 2014, the community has been using a riverbed detour, which is inadequate for emergency services and for our local beef and primary producers,’ Mr Hogan said.
‘The new bridge will improve access for the wider community, as well as emergency vehicles and our primary producers who account for about 24 per cent of traffic on this section of the Clarence Way.’
‘I would also like to thank [Kyogle] mayor Mullholland and staff for working with me on this. It shows that when we are united as a community, we can ensure our voice is heard in Canberra,’ he said.
