Magnetic Island bridge on Sooning St to be demolished next week

Acting Townsville Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney has denied suggestions the council has been sitting idle over the replacement of a wrecked bridge on Magnetic Island.

The flood-ravaged bridge across Gustav Creek at Sooning Street on Magnetic Island has been flagged for demolition by Townsville City Council early next week. Acting mayor and divisional councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said she was relieved to get works underway to remove the badly damaged structure, with all excavated materials to be returned to Townsville. Picture: Supplied

Acting Townsville Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney has denied suggestions the council has been sitting idle over the replacement of a wrecked bridge on Magnetic Island.

The councillor said the “flood-ravaged” Sooning St bridge in Nelly Bay was scheduled for demolition early next week.

“We have not simply been sitting on our hands, there are a lot of moving parts to getting these kinds of works underway, especially given any work in Gustav Creek is subject to constraints relating to fishways and protected mangroves,” she said.

“We were unable to commence demolition in the waterways until we had endorsement approval from the State Assessment and Referral Agency, which was negotiated late last week.”

Frustrated residents have lambasted the council for failing to replace the bridge, destroyed beyond repair during the North Queensland flood disaster in early February.

The flood-ravaged bridge across Gustav Creek at Sooning Street on Magnetic Island has been flagged for demolition by Townsville City Council early next week. Acting mayor and divisional councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said she was relieved to get works underway to remove the badly damaged structure, with all excavated materials to be returned to Townsville. Picture: Supplied

Ms Greaney, the councillor for Division 3 that encompasses the island, said she was relieved to be getting work underway.

“Both Magnetic Island residents and council were devastated to lose the Sooning Street bridge during the severe weather event in late December last year,” she said.

“Since then it has been hit after hit for our region and thanks to more than 2700mm of rain falling in the Gustav Creek catchment, the damage has gotten worse and worse, so I’m pleased we can get things started to clean up the site in preparation for a new structure.”

Councillor Greaney said structural and environmental assessments for the flood-damaged bridge were completed in late February, with council staff and consultants working with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and other government agencies on demolition and reconstruction of a structure that would be acceptable under the current guidelines. Picture: Evan Morgan

Ms Greaney said removing the structure would also limit further adverse impact on Gustav Creek.

She said structural and environmental assessments were finished last month, with staff and consultants engaged with the state government of a replacement bridge that met the prevailing laws and regulations.

“Council has submitted our replacement option for the structure to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority last week and we are awaiting their approval,” she said.

“Not only will the demolition works clear the eyesore that is now falling piece by piece into Gustav Creek, but it will give us a clean slate for the contractor to get cracking as soon as we receive sign off and funding from QRA.”

Ms Greaney said it was “critical” the project be completed as soon as possible but the recent heavy rainfall and an expected king tide meant the contractor was not able to start work till next week.

BMD Group is expected to start the demolition on Monday, weather and conditions permitting.

The council said all excavated materials would be returned to Townsville.

Originally published as Magnetic Island bridge on Sooning St to be demolished next week