BY RENEE POWELL
“It’s a disaster waiting to happen”.
That’s the stark warning from Belubula River landholders as an old rail bridge remains in the waterway more than two years after the devastating floods that caused its collapse.
Transport for NSW has told the Canowindra News that its contractors plan to have the heritage-listed bridge removed by the end of September 2025 - weather permitting.
But the bridge has been there since November 2022 and Michael Payton, Chairman of the Belubula River Landholders group, is calling for its immediate removal.
Conditions are currently drier and water levels lower: waiting only increases the risk that wetter conditions will return and water will be pushed into the town.
“When it will inevitably flood again it’s going to put a lot more pressure on the town,” Mr Payton said.
“It will attract debris and when debris binds to that bridge in the river it’s going to cause a dam wall there.
“There’s nowhere much for the water to go except higher.”
That would mean more water affecting the town and surrounds.
The need to remove the bridge was formally identified in Cabonne Shire Council’s flood recovery plan – adopted in June 2023.
Transport for NSW, in a statement provided to The Canowindra News, says Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison visited the site in October 2024, with Transport for NSW Acting Regional Director West Holly Davies and representatives from Cabonne Council, to meet the contractor and gain an understanding of the scope of work required to remove all debris associated with the flood event.
Before they can remove the bridge itself, a number of heritage considerations and approvals need to be addressed.
“The next stage of work to be completed by the contractor will comprise the removal of three bridges near Canowindra, including the heritage-listed Belubula River Underbridge, plus removal of silt at the bridge site and further elements of the disused rail infrastructure,” a spokesperson for Transport for NSW said.
“Preparatory work is already underway, however, before any work can begin on-site there are a number of heritage considerations and approvals to be addressed.
“The contractor has advised Transport that the two non-heritage listed structures will be removed by 30 June 2025 and work to remove the heritage-listed bridge is expected to be completed by the end of September 2025, weather permitting.”
Just get it out of the river, Mr Peyton says.
Even in these favourable conditions, those down Coocumber Creek upstream are seeing increased flows as a result of silt build-up upstream of the bridge.
“(Coocumber Creek) is taking way more water now since this bridge went in,” Mr Payton said.
“The landholders on that side of the river have got this ongoing problem that that creek is running all the time – every time there’s even a little fresh in the river, not a flood.”
Ken Stanley’s property is down Coocumber Creek and he says water levels are higher and the water is taking longer to drain away.
“What’s happening is we’re seeing more water going down Coocumber Creek which is meant to be just an overflow,” he said.
“We have access problems getting down to our farm – we have a concrete crossing but it’s sometimes quite deep and it shouldn’t need to be that deep.”
Transport for NSW says it has been working with local stakeholders on remediating the damage caused by the 2022 floods, and has completed the first stage of extensive flood clean up in the area.
“The first stage of this extensive flood clean-up work included debris removal, restoration of the surrounding area and implementation of measures to mitigate future blockages or structural impacts, ensuring the safety and reinstatement of private land through our work with the landowners,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.
“This work was completed in December 2024.”
The work also included stabilisation of the heritage-listed non-operational rail corridor, cutting in new top drains and scour protection for the billabong and excavation of the rail embankment.
Lachlan Valley Water, as representative of landholders along the river and creek, wrote to Minister Aitchison last November and is awaiting a response.