WHAT must have been close to 1000 people turned out at the One Voice One Bridge rally at Barwon Heads on Sunday.
For the first hour the mix of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and supportive visitors listened to the music of Broderick Smith, Sambrose Automobile and Chris Wilson before local speakers gave impassioned speaches about why they were opposed to the VicRoads plan to build two bridges in place of the iconic existing one.
Speakers included Michael Harbour of Ocean Grove Community Association, councillor Jan Farrell, local ScreenActors manager Peter Richards, Senator Colleen Hartland, Barwon Heads Association president Geoffrey Waite, and Piping Hot Chicken Shop owner John Bowman.
For full story and pictures see the January 14 edition of the Voice.
Background story
A ONE Voice One Bridge rally is being staged at Barwon Heads Bridge on Sunday January 11.
The rally is being held in opposition to the government’s approval for VicRoads to construct a second (new) bridge 21 metres downstream (towards the sea) from the existing bridge.
The rally is being organised by the Barwon Heads Association and the Ocean Grove Community Association.
Media release and rally update issued by the organisers on Tuesday January 6:
“Normally small rural and coastal towns welcome government projects designed to restore aging infrastructure. Not so at Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove where the state’s longest remaining timber bridge across a beautiful estuary joining the 2 towns is about to be demolished and replaced with, not one, but two road bridges.
Yes, two bridges; one smaller road bridge (4.5 metres wide) to be constructed 21 metres downstream (towards the sea) and to be later turned into a pedestrian bridge with the 2 bridges having a permanent footprint (loss of beaches on both sides of the river) of 23.5metres.
Beware Victorians Premier Brumby is saying that traffic has priority over place and environment - a beginning of things to come. Heavy trucks will be winding their way through narrow village streets, ruining amenity and fouling the fresh sea air.
The tourism icon of the Barwon Heads Bridge which was reinforced by the television series Sea Change will be lost forever, the idyllic sea-views will be interrupted, distorted and destroyed.
Beaches have been re-zoned as roads.
The cost is now $40m instead of the original $27 m considered by the Advisory Committee and the community.
There has been no Environmental Impact Study. Since June 2008 the Spit has naturally eroded some 50metres and nobody knows what the environmental impact will be of constructing second bridge 21 metres closer to the end of the Spit.
There will be a significant loss of amenity with prime river beach being replaced by permanent infrastructure.
Community consultation on the final signed off proposal for two bridges has never occurred.
In unprecedented unity the twin towns of Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, via their Community Associations, are holding a COMMUNITY RALLY ON SUNDAY 11 January 2009 from 1:00pm.
The purpose of the rally is to show the Brumby Government what the community feels about the final VicRoads proposal and to demand a proper forum to achieve a ONE BRIDGE solution supported by all parties and stake holders.
The following entertainment will start the event
1.00pm - Chris Wilson/Sarah Carroll
1.30pm - Broderick Smith (Sambrose Automobile backing)
1.40pm - Sambrose Automobile
Speakers starting at 2pm will include
- Cadel Evans, local celebrity
- Senator Colleen Hartland Greens State Senator
- Geoffrey Waite President Barwon Heads Association
- Michael Harbour Chairman Ocean Grove Community Association
- City of Greater Geelong Councilors Jan Farrell & Andy Richards
- Plus local fishermen and identities
Once speakers are finished everyone present will be asked to come down to the beach and form a “human bridge footprint”. By getting hundreds of people to stand on the beach and more in the water (on surfboards and boats) we will show the disastrous location and size of the planned second bridge. This should provide a great photo opportunity!
Howlin Wind and friends will continue the entertainment and conclude the Rally.”
For more information download the Bridge Rally flier.
Latest Feedback