A 56m long pedestrian footbridge across Rifle Range Creek at Bargara will form part of a $520,000 capital works project to be undertaken by Bundaberg Regional Council.
The work is scheduled to commence on Monday (December 9) and expected to be completed by the end of February 2014.
Council’s divisional representative Cr Greg Barnes said the project would finalise the ‘missing link’ between existing pathways from Coral Reef Park and Turtle Cove Park.
Cr Barnes said the work would involve the construction of approximately 700 metres of 2.5m wide concrete pathway and the connecting pedestrian bridge across Rifle Range Creek. Click here to view the proposed route of the pathway & bridge
“This project has been the subject of extensive community comment as well as significant discussion involving several Government departments.”
Cr Barnes said Rifle Range Creek was a haven for various wetland birds that visit the site including the Mangrove Gerygone, Masked Lapwing and the Black-fronted Dotterel.
“In 2009, Bundaberg Regional Council and the Burnett Mary Regional Group undertook a $30,000 project to plant 2.5ha of native coastal trees to provide a riparian buffer. This created a physical barrier for stormwater runoff, preventing litter and other pollutants from entering the estuary,” he said.
“Its gratifying to see this project get underway as it will deliver an extended area for recreational use by so many locals and visitors alike and enable them to traverse a beautiful part of the Bargara coastline.”
Cr Barnes said residents in the adjacent areas including those living on Logan Road near the entrance to Windermere Park and people utilising Mary Kinross, Windermere and Coral Reef Parks may be affected to a minor degree by construction although all parks will remain open.
“I would urge all members of the public who are utilising the area around the designated construction site to exercise caution and care.”
“From an environmental point of view I am delighted to see that respective State & Federal environmental agencies have signed off on the project and that recycled composite material will be used in the construction process.”
Funding for the project involves a contribution of $208,000 under the State Government’s Local Grants and Subsidies Program for which Council is extremely grateful.
ENDS