Latrobe Council’s plan for new bridge over Mersey River expected to draw tourists

A Tasmanian town hopes building Australia’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge will give tourists another reason to come. SEE THE PLANS >>

Concept design of the Wild Mersey Pedestrian Bridge

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A TASMANIAN town hopes the construction of Australia’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge will give it a major tourism drawcard.

Latrobe Council’s plans to build the 150m bridge moved a step closer last week with the awarding of the tender to Bridge Pro Engineering.

The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Australia at the moment is located in Northam, Western Australia. The bridge, across the Avon River, is 100m long. The Alexandra suspension bridge across Launceston’s Gorge is just under 70m.

The council hopes the bridge will boost the Wild Mersey Mountain Bike experience and create an iconic tourist feature in Latrobe.

It will now prepare a draft design and undertake an environmental impact assessment in consultation with the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure the project does not negatively impact on any threatened or vulnerable flora and fauna species.

Chris Stredwick and Todd Miles explores the mountain bike trails near Railton after the Wild Mersey launch

If approved, the bridge is anticipated to cross the Mersey River at Warrawee Conservation Area as part of the Wild Mersey mountain bike trails project and be available to both mountain bike riders and walkers.

“Council has been developing the Wild Mersey Mountain Bike Trail project since 2015 and to have the opportunity to work with a Latrobe based company to design what will be an iconic piece of infrastructure that is a record for the southern hemisphere is really exciting,” Mayor Peter Freshney said.

He said the council had long planned to construct a high-level bridge across the Mersey River which was not susceptible to the impact of flood events like that experienced in 2016.

“It is not every day you get the opportunity to design such a challenging and important piece of infrastructure in your hometown,” Managing Director of Bridge Pro Engineering Aaron Brimfield said.

“Bridge Pro Engineering recognises the environmental sensitivity of the Warrawee Conservation Area and will apply best practice environmental management procedures so that our native species, such as Latrobe’s iconic platypus, is not impacted”.