Towradgi bridge opens

Jason Northey got a first-hand look at the completed $1 million bridge over Towradgi Creek last week.

JASON Northey can walk across the newly completed bridge over Towradgi Creek with a sense of satisfaction.

As the president of Corrimal Surf Life Saving Club, Mr Northey was part of a group of community members who fought for the project.

Sydney Water originally planned to leave a suspended sewerage pipe exposed across the creek at Corrimal Beach.

Local residents called for the unsightly pipe to be placed underground, but the proposal was deemed too expensive.

The decision sparked a community picket and several public meetings in 2004 before Sydney Water announced it would conceal the pipe with the new purpose built bridge.

Strolling across the $1 million structure after its completion last week, Mr Northey said he was impressed with the finished results.

"It's a huge improvement over the old bridge, which was getting a bit old and frail," he said.

Corrimal surf club waded into the bridge debate in 2003, claiming that the sewerage pipe posed a safety hazard to surf boats that were regularly launched in the creek.

Mr Northey said the new bridge appeared to be at a height that would allow inflatable boats and kayaks to pass underneath.

Minister for Water Utilities, David Campbell said the structure was stronger and higher than the old bridge, which would reduce the risk of flooding in the area.

"The decking will require very little maintenance and because the bridge is constructed from concrete it will last a lot longer than the old wooden one," he said.

Mr Campbell said the pipe underneath the bridge was a vital part of the $215 million Illawarra Wastewater Strategy.

"The pipeline is an essential link in the sewerage system, carrying wastewater from the northern suburbs to the Wollongong Sewerage Treatment Plant for high level treatment and recycling," he said.

Construction of the new bridge was completed one month ahead of schedule. Workers from Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd are now removing the old bridge.