Ralph Richardson, president of the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum committee accuses Gympie Regional Council of neglecting to repair the gantry at the museum in order to justify its demolition.
A similar accusation could be leveled at Council over its failure to monitor the deterioration of Imbil’s railway bridge.
I am reliably informed that the bridge is in poor condition and in need of renovation.
Gympie Council may claim that State Government has responsibility for the bridge repair since it owns the rail corridor of which the bridge is a part, but Council has a lease on the corridor so surely should have some input into its management.
A joint initiative from local and state authorities is in order to assess what’s needed for repair of the bridge and to determine financial obligations.
Otherwise it will end up in the same position as the gantry – allowed to rot until declared dangerous and only able to be demolished.
That bridge is a part of Imbil’s history and has definite aesthetic appeal when viewed from the white bridge during a striking sunset.
When this white bridge is inundated in a flood the railway bridge is the only available route people have to cross Yabba Creek.
It forms an integral part of the projected rail trail extension from Imbil to Amamoor.
The existing Imbil/Brooloo trail was created largely with State Government money but through co-operation with Gympie Council so why can’t a similar joint effort happen to repair this historic bridge and extend the rail trail to Amamoor?
Roslyn Barrett.
