❓ The Minister for Transport provides an update on the Fitzroy River Bridge rebuild, highlighting the rapid procurement process, contract signing, and enhanced resilience of the new bridge. Community support and collaboration with traditional owners are emphasised.
AnsweredQoN 223Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KIMBERLEY FLOODS — FITZROY RIVER BRIDGE
223. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the devastation caused
by the Kimberley flood event and ex–tropical cyclone Ellie,
particularly in the Fitzroy Valley.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how this government is progressing with the rebuild
of a new, more resilient Fitzroy River Bridge?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how community members have responded to this
important recovery project?
223. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the devastation caused
by the Kimberley flood event and ex–tropical cyclone Ellie,
particularly in the Fitzroy Valley.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how this government is progressing with the rebuild
of a new, more resilient Fitzroy River Bridge?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how community members have responded to this
important recovery project?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for Geraldton for that question. I also acknowledge the member
for Kimberley, who unfortunately cannot be here with us today, for all
her work in supporting the recovery from those devastating floods.
(1)–(2) Today
we marked a major milestone in relation to the replacement of the Fitzroy River
Bridge. We have signed a contract with some very experienced operators to begin
the reconstruction of that bridge. The contract is with Georgiou Group, BMD
Group and BG&E. Today was the execution of the formal alliance agreement. Just to put this into context, it would
normally take nine to 12 months to get to this stage through a normal
procurement process. We started this procurement process six weeks ago. We have
now signed a contract with very, very experienced companies to rebuild the
Fitzroy River Bridge. The bridge will be longer, wider and six times stronger
than the original bridge. It will be 100 metres longer. As we know, the flood
increased the size of the channel to about 270 metres and this bridge will need
to cover the entire width of the wider river. The bridge will also be wider
with two lanes either way. The new bridge will require 1 200 tonnes of steel
together with 4 000 cubic metres of concrete.
Our target is to have some form of
traffic operating over this bridge by the middle of next year. After talking to
the contractors, we are confident that we can deliver this replacement bridge
in that time. To again demonstrate the
significant challenge, the existing piers were sunk to about 20 metres into the
riverbed . The piers for this new
bridge will be sunk to 40 metres to make it stronger to withstand some of that
water pressure.
Of course, we have to demolish the
existing bridge. Works are underway with the Water Corporation and Telstra in
relation to relocating services as soon as possible to then be able to demolish
the bridge. We are also working with traditional owners on opportunities for
local employment and local businesses. We are also working with them in
relation to the construction of a 100-person work camp located in the area to
get this job up and going. I thank the federal government for its support so
far and all those in industry who are
working together. This is a challenging situation, but by working together we
will be able to rebuild that bridge. A number of other initiatives are
happening already. The barge is operating and the first low-level crossing will
be complete, we believe, in the next few weeks. I thank all the workers who
have already delivered so much in relation
to opening the Willare section of the Great Northern Highway between Derby and Broome. This is another big project. I thank
all the traditional owners, the local Kimberley people and the support we have had throughout the
Kimberley from people on the ground. They have acknowledged not only the
incredible work that has already been done by the government in opening up
transport routes, but also the work that is about to commence in replacing that
bridge.
thank the member for Geraldton for that question. I also acknowledge the member
for Kimberley, who unfortunately cannot be here with us today, for all
her work in supporting the recovery from those devastating floods.
(1)–(2) Today
we marked a major milestone in relation to the replacement of the Fitzroy River
Bridge. We have signed a contract with some very experienced operators to begin
the reconstruction of that bridge. The contract is with Georgiou Group, BMD
Group and BG&E. Today was the execution of the formal alliance agreement. Just to put this into context, it would
normally take nine to 12 months to get to this stage through a normal
procurement process. We started this procurement process six weeks ago. We have
now signed a contract with very, very experienced companies to rebuild the
Fitzroy River Bridge. The bridge will be longer, wider and six times stronger
than the original bridge. It will be 100 metres longer. As we know, the flood
increased the size of the channel to about 270 metres and this bridge will need
to cover the entire width of the wider river. The bridge will also be wider
with two lanes either way. The new bridge will require 1 200 tonnes of steel
together with 4 000 cubic metres of concrete.
Our target is to have some form of
traffic operating over this bridge by the middle of next year. After talking to
the contractors, we are confident that we can deliver this replacement bridge
in that time. To again demonstrate the
significant challenge, the existing piers were sunk to about 20 metres into the
riverbed . The piers for this new
bridge will be sunk to 40 metres to make it stronger to withstand some of that
water pressure.
Of course, we have to demolish the
existing bridge. Works are underway with the Water Corporation and Telstra in
relation to relocating services as soon as possible to then be able to demolish
the bridge. We are also working with traditional owners on opportunities for
local employment and local businesses. We are also working with them in
relation to the construction of a 100-person work camp located in the area to
get this job up and going. I thank the federal government for its support so
far and all those in industry who are
working together. This is a challenging situation, but by working together we
will be able to rebuild that bridge. A number of other initiatives are
happening already. The barge is operating and the first low-level crossing will
be complete, we believe, in the next few weeks. I thank all the workers who
have already delivered so much in relation
to opening the Willare section of the Great Northern Highway between Derby and Broome. This is another big project. I thank
all the traditional owners, the local Kimberley people and the support we have had throughout the
Kimberley from people on the ground. They have acknowledged not only the
incredible work that has already been done by the government in opening up
transport routes, but also the work that is about to commence in replacing that
bridge.
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