Save national treasure
BARWON River’s historic aqueduct would become a tourist drawcard comparable to the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House if restored to its original condition, supporters say.
The newly formed Friends of Barwon River Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct community group strongly opposes Barwon Water’s plans to demolish four of the 14 spans of the heritagelisted aqueduct in Breakwater and instead say it should be saved and preserved.
The 100-year-old aqueduct was inspired by a Scottish rail bridge design, the steel Firth of Forth Bridge, which opened in 1890.
The aqueduct was decommissioned in 1992 and replaced by a new sewer main but its degrading structure was retained.
Barwon Water announced earlier this year it was moving to open up safe access ess along a section of the Barwon won River and surrounding land by demolishing part of the aqueduct due to safety fety concerns.
Under plans reecently submitted to o Heritage Victoria, spans immediately y adjacent to the e north bank of the he river would be removed to allow kayakers to paddle from Buckley Falls to Barwon Heads.
But Friends of Barwon River spokesman David Le Lievre said the heritage aqueduct must be saved.
“It’s an iconic structure,” Mr Le Lievre said.
“With the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, I believe the aqueduct should become the third iconic man manmade structure in Australia.”
In March, Barwon Water managing director Tracey Slatter said partial demolition of the aqueduct was the only safe option.
“We have investigated all possible options for improving, stopping or slowin slowing the aqueduct’s natural degradation, particularly across the river,” Ms Slatter said.
“But technical advice has made it clear that it is simply not viable from a safety and cost perspective.”
But Mr Le Lievre said there were “engineering solutions” to provide safe public access under and around the aqueduct without any demolition.
Mr Le Lievre said the group preferred an option proposed in 2017 by engineering firm GHD that included the installation of culverts to allow safe access ccess for cyclists and ped pedestrians.
The community group has launched a website to advocate for the conservation of the aqueduct.
Barwon Water said the full cost of restoration had been esbelieved there were no bail conditions that could reduce his risk in the community to an acceptable level.
Mr Burr was remanded until July 14. timated at between $20million $20 million and $30 million. The cost of removing the five spans is estimated at $3.6 million.
Submissions regarding the planning application can be made to Heritage Victoria until June 19.