Wallace Creek Bridge opens

THE Wallace Creek Bridge opened with a bang on Saturday in a ceremony which included cannon fire, cadets and bag pipes.

Naval officers mark the opening of the Wallace Creek Bridge between Burnett Heads and Port of Bundaberg at the weekend. . Picture: Darryn Smith

THE Wallace Creek Bridge opened with a bang on Saturday in a ceremony which included cannon fire, cadets and bag pipes.

Gladstone Ports Corporation spokeswoman Lee McIvor said about 100 people turned out to see the linking bridge officially opened.

“It all went really, really well,” Ms McIvor said.

“The community is ecstatic to see the bridge finally opened.”

Among the first people to cross the bridge were Senator John Hogg, Paul Neville and Lorraine Pyefinch.

“When we opened the road at about 1pm, there were cars everywhere,” Ms McIvor said.

“Everyone went for a Sunday drive on Saturday to go over the bridge.”

Port of Bundaberg manager Jason Pascoe said he was pleased to see the project completed.

“We are expecting an increase in the amount of tourist and business activity in the area, which will in turn provide an increased injection of capital into the Wide Bay Burnett region due to activity associated with the bridge,” he said.

“Our aim for the area is to create sustainable development of strategic port land resources and I think this is a positive step towards achieving this.”

Daneyl Green and her husband grew up in Burnett Heads and the pair visits their parents in the coastal community almost every weekend.

“The bridge will really open the community up,” she said.

“We will definitely go down to the port more often now to grab coffee and that sort of thing.”

Mrs Green said it would have been convenient to have the bridge when she was growing up.

“It would have been a lot easier to go down and do some fishing,” she said.

“It will be great for everyone in Burnett Heads.”

Originally published as Wallace Creek Bridge opens