A parliamentary question regarding the Water Corporation's bridge ownership, management, load limits, and maintenance budget in the South West of WA reveals a large number of bridges owned, load limit changes due to structural defects, and fluctuating maintenance budgets.

AnsweredQoN 82Legislative Council
Asked
10 April 2025
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to a number of bridges across the South West of Western Australia that are owned or managed by the Water Corporation, and I ask: (a) how many bridges in the South West region are owned by the Water Corporation; (b) how many bridges in the South West region are managed, but not owned, by the Water Corporation; (c) on how many of the bridges owned or managed by the Water Corporation are there load limits; (d) on how many of the bridges in part (c) have the load limits been changed recently, or are about to be changed; (e) in reference to (d), are these changes being forced by Main Roads WA; (f) in reference to (d), are these changes due to a lack of maintenance on the bridges by the Water Corporation; (g) if no to (f), what has caused the changes; and (h) what has been the budget for Water Corporation bridge maintenance each financial year for the following years: (i) 2020-21; (ii) 2021-22; (iii) 2022-23; (iv) 2023-24; and (v) 2024-25 to date?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
20 May 2025
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Water
Response time
4 days
(a) 617.
(b) 0.
(c) 35.
(d) 34 of the load limit changes in part (c) have changed or are about to be changed this year (2025).
(e) The load limit changes have been identified by Main Roads WA as the agency responsible for the regulatory signing of bridges on all public roads.
(f) No.
(g) Recent inspections have identified structural defects that require a reduction in load to ensure structural integrity.
(h) The budget for Water Corporation bridge maintenance in the South West, each financial year are:
(i) $362,000
(ii) $ 2,020,000
(iii) $1,234,000
(iv) $ 1,318,00
(v) $ 982,000 – this is the figure for the financial year 2024-25

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