Questions over bridge
Beach connector hangs on state approval
CAIRNS Regional Council has been accused of ploughing forward with construction of a controversial foot bridge slated for Barr Creek without approval from the state planning regulator.
The bridge is expected to form the southern end of the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail by linking Machans and Holloways beaches.
A contract to build the bridge element of the $6m project was awarded to Davbridge
Constructions at council meeting.
A project completion date has been set for August 2021.
But the council is yet to respond to queries by planning regulator the State Assessment Referral Authority, who questioned the need for the bridge and said “no alternatives construction methods have been suggested”.
Holloways Beach resident Bob Rankin, who is an opponent of the bridge, said the last week’s council had failed to answer questions over development in a declared fish habitat area.
“Their development application got rejected on quite a number of grounds and the council — if they want to proceed — have to give satisfactory answers to the queries,” he said. “They haven’t done that yet.”
A council spokesman said the response to a SARA information request was expected within four weeks.
“Council’s submission will demonstrate that all performance outcomes have been met, and this is largely due to the construction method proposed by the successful contractor, Davbridge,” he said.
“Council awarded the contract for the construction of the Barr Creek Bridge, however this is subject to all approvals being granted. Should the approvals not be granted then the project will not proceed in its current form.”
However, Mr Rankin said he was aware of a council plan to appeal against a SARA decision if the regulator found the bridge development in breach of state planning codes.
“They have a plan in place to legally challenge SARA for overstepping its authority,” he said.
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