Sapphire Coast News

Just before the end of the 2009 school year, pupils from Candelo Public School made the first official crossing of the new footbridge across the Candelo Creek.

The footbridge, which provides safe access for pupils to the swimming pool on the other side of the creek, was one of the 29 Bega Valley Shire Council projects in the Federal Government’s Rural Local Community Infrastructure Program.

The Candelo community identified the footbridge as the piece of infrastructure they would prefer and received $56,000 from Council’s $1.043 million allocation.

The Candelo Markets Committee contributed further funds to help complete the footpath to the pool.

In late December an impromptu gathering of community members waited on the western side of the footbridge to greet pupils as they made their way to swimming classes for the first “official” crossing of the bridge.

Two of the pupils, Sophie Heffernan and Molly Britten, acknowledged the efforts of the community and thanked the Council and the Federal Government for the bridge which, they said, would make life safer for the children of the town.

Mayor Tony Allen said a lot of thought had gone into the design of the bridge and he congratulated project co-ordinator David Buckley on coming up with the most efficient and cost effective design for the job.

The design involves the use of galvanised screw piles, composite fibre plastic structural members and recycled plastic grating deck.

In addition to being lightweight, strong, simple to construct and environmentally friendly, the materials used won’t rot, rust, fade, burn and are termite proof.

While no structure is 100% flood-proof, the bridge has been designed to “go under” during a flood event and the low level construction means that when “the big one” comes, large flood debris will pass over the top of the bridge.

Cr Allen said he was pleased that Council had been able at last to provide the pupils of Candelo Public School with a safe and convenient access path to the pool and that other people in Candelo would also benefit from the new footbridge.

The Candelo Public School pupils have been tracking the project from the design stage through to completion.and Year 6 students incorporated the project into their class studies.

Laura Willoughby and Georgia Sheedy, with their teacher Jennie Sheedy, photographed all stages of the construction work and discussed the technical details with the engineer, Mr Buckley.

As this was the year 6 pupils’ last year at the school Mr Buckley decided to allow the “official” crossing before some of the finishing touches had been completed.

These include concrete approaches at the ends of the bridge, rock stabilisation and drainage on the approach batters, bollards to prevent vehicle access and a final grade and roll of the gravel path.

Mr Buckley said he expected those works to be completed before Christmas.