Fed-up farming town races to replace bushfire damaged bridge

A Victorian farming community says it’s prepared to resort to a mammoth sausage sizzle to rebuild a crucial bridge that was wiped out by bushfires.

The timber crossing was reduced to rubble when the blaze barrelled through Fawcett in January.

Eight months later and still without a replacement, locals say they’ve been left in the lurch, facing lengthy detours and fears over emergency access.

But they say their concerns have landed on deaf ears. They’re now racing against the clock before the next fire season hits.

“The whole issue is beyond mad. Just insane,” resident Fiona said.

Fawcett Hall president Sam Hicks said the state government’s disaster recovery funding rules were at the centre of the hold-up.

“They want a repair quote, and there’s nothing to repair... the integrity of that bridge is gone,” he said.

Murrindindi Shire Council has received a plan for a new bridge estimated to cost $800,000.

Mayor Damien Gallagher said repairing the existing structure was not considered viable.

“We’re not going to be able to find engineers that can sign off for repair,” he said.

The Longwood bushfires destroyed 20 homes across the area, while crews also battled to save the bridge as flames swept through.

“This bridge is burnt from basically underneath. We tackled it three times on the day,” CFA captain Scott Reeves said.

The closure has left some facing an extra 40-minute drive, while a temporary ford beside the bridge flooded during winter.

“This bridge separates Fawcett, so half of Fawcett is on the other side,” Reeves said.

Resident Donna said the damaged crossing had also left her worried about emergency access.

“I live on that side of the bridge and, if we need an ambulance, we’re stuffed.”

Hicks said the community was ready to fire up a sausage sizzle if funding did not arrive.

“We will do a buy-your-own bridge… we’ve only got to sell 3000 sausages a week for 17 weeks, and we shouldn’t have to.”

Emergency Management Victoria said it had not refused funding for a replacement.

“EMV has not refused to fund the replacement of Fawcett Bridge… we’re working closely with Murrindindi Shire Council and the Department of Transport and Planning to find the right solution.”

Hicks said the next fire season was now only two months away.

“The next fire season is two months away. How do we get an emergency vehicle north? We can’t.”

“We just want the bridge, that's all we want, we need a bridge.”

Response from Eildon MP Cindy McLeish

The government appears to be looking for every reason not to fund this. A new bridge is needed now.

Locals should not have to wait 11 months and hope for a change of government to get this done.

Funding for disaster recovery should not be left to small rural cash strapped Shires like Murrindindi.

Response from Emergency Management Victoria

EMV has not refused to fund the replacement of Fawcett Bridge.

We know how important this is to the local community, and we’re working closely with Murrindindi Shire Council and the Department of Transport and Planning to find the right solution and get access restored as soon as possible.

We’re continuing to support communities affected by the January bushfires through grants, funding, and practical support, and we’ll always look at what more we can do.

Response from the Australian government

The Australian Government provides various funding opportunities to assist local government with road infrastructure priorities, including to support reliable, year-round access to rural communities.

Local Government Authorities have funding available through the Roads to Recovery program.

For the period 2024-29, Murrindindi Shire Council has $9.53 million available for local road construction and maintenance projects, including bridges. It is open to the council to use this funding on the Fawcett bridge.

Funding can also be sought through an application under the Black Spot program or the Safer Local Roads Infrastructure Program (SLRIP). The current round of SLRIP is open for applications, closing on 31 January 2027.

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and betterment funding may also be available through the National Emergency Management Agency, with the Government currently undertaking reforms to make disaster recovery funding simpler, fairer and more consistent for communities across Australia.