The Green route would follow the railway line, excessive and heavy traffic away from Yarrawongá’s main street.
Photo by
Racheal Willett
Hopes for a new bridge between Yarrawonga and Mulwala were again dashed this week as the NSW Transport Department revealed the project was not a current priority.
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The joint project is a collaboration between Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian governments but has stalled, at least until Victoria commits to a preferred route.
The NSW Government confirmed its commitment to the Green route, along the railway line, as its preferred option in 2021.
The Green route was overwhelmingly supported by communities, local councils and Federal MPs on both sides of the river.
In the absence of any commitment from Victoria, Transport for NSW this week confirmed its current priorities for Murray River crossings were the replacement of Swan Hill Bridge and a major overhaul of the Tooleybuc Bridge.
Internal documents used to guide investment prioritisation, future work and funding bids include the Murray River Crossing Strategic Business Case.
A business case, prepared by the NSW Government, is almost complete but gathering dust until their Victorian counterpart commits to a route.
The Victorian Government is conducting a movement study looking at ways people travel between Yarrawonga and Mulwala “to help plan for future improvements”.
“This crucial work will help shape future connections between the two towns and ensure that we meet the needs of everyone in the communities, both now and into the future,” a spokesperson said.
“The last movement study completed on the bridge was in 2014 … significant technological changes have occurred, and there has been an increase in heavy vehicles.
“The revised modelling is needed to best inform any future investment decisions.”
The plan is scheduled for completion in 2025 with no more specific time frame given.
The Green route is preferred by the NSW Government, communities, councils and Federal MPs on both sides of the river, but Victoria is stalling.
Albury MP Justin Clancy said it was disappointing and concerning that Victorian was yet to commit to the Green route despite significant advocacy by NSW to come to a decision.
“Victoria has snuck by without having to make a decision,” Mr Clancy said.
“We all appreciate there are a number of steps ahead of us, but first base is getting both states to agree to a Green route; two years after NSW confirmed the green route, this is deeply concerning.
“The community deserves to know when the movement study will be completed and how long after completion would they make some sort of decision on the route.”
Mr Clancy said that once a commitment was made to the route, planning could move ahead to get the project to a shovel ready stage with funding arrangements in place.
“It’s up to Victoria,” he said.
Federal MPs Sussan Ley in Farrer, NSW and Sam Birrell in Nicholls, Victoria said the Federal Government would likely play a joint funding role, but a business case would need to be put forward by the State Governments.
“At this point, we don’t have a project, we don’t have anything,” Mr Birrell said.
Ms Ley said progress was happening at “less than snail’s pace”, which was not only frustrating but bordered on an insult to the two local communities most affected.
In February 2024, she contacted NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison requesting a meeting to “learn how our respective offices can assist in attracting equitable funding from the Victorian and Federal governments in progressing this vital road link”.
At the time Ms Ley believed the almost completed revision of the Murray River Crossings Strategic Business Plan would elevate the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Bridge to a high priority.
The deteriorating condition of the 100-year-old bridge, increases in local and interstate traffic, the closure of the Yarrawonga Weir access road in 2021 and the strategic transport needs between munitions plants at Mulwala and Benalla all indicated the need to replace the bridge as a high priority.
More than 12 months later, progress is stalled.
The original Murray River crossing.
In the meantime, Green Route committee chair and former Moira Shire mayor, John Lawless said the project’s costs had escalated, with initial estimates around $100 million, potentially exceeding $200 million.
His frustration over the community’s repeated meetings with parliamentarians, political games and lack of progress is exacerbated by a belief that the Green route is the commonsense option.
“It is the most logical and the least disruptive option for traffic flow,” Mr Lawless said.
“The whole idea of the Green route was to follow the railway line as a bypass, which is thinking 50 years ahead.
“It’s common sense; the Green route can be built from bank to bank without interfering with commerce and gets the heavy vehicles out of Belmore St with very little acquisition of land; it’s all there.
“But the Victorian Government is still doing traffic counts.”
A spokesman for Transport for NSW said the department would continue to collaborate with Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning on the 32 Murray River crossings.
“With around 150,000 road vehicles per day and more than 20 million tonnes of freight crossing the Murray River each year, maintaining and future planning for these crossings is an important priority for both agencies,” the spokesman said.
“The crossings provide critical connectivity between NSW and Victoria with several bridges needing significant investment.”
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