THE Swan Hill bridge is set to be removed from heritage listing, allowing for the next step in the bid to secure a new structure to span the Murray River.
Transport for NSW announced the decision this week, with the bridge one of seven across the state to be removed from the conservation strategy and from service.
Another eight received heritage listing, including the Tooleybuc bridge.
There has been ongoing discussion around a new Swan Hill bridge since the 1960s, with the federal government committing $60 million towards the project on April 1 this year.
Deciding a location had proved a significant obstacle, with Swan Hill Rural City Council and Murray River Council unable to reach an agreement on the appropriate alignment.
However, chair of the Swan Hill bridge joint advocacy group Les McPhee told The Guardian the decision to remove the heritage listing would open up a new option of utilising the site of the current crossing.
"It's very pleasing, the Swan Hill council has been working closely with Murray River Council trying to get the heritage listing taken off the Swan Hill bridge," Cr McPhee said.
"This gives us the option of an alignment along a similar line, which has never been looked at before because of the heritage listing.
"It opens us up to take the first step of the process to look at building the bridge along a similar alignment.
"We're going to be continually advocating with VicRoads and NSW RMS to look at any state issues in regards to the current alignment."
Cr McPhee said the committee would be urging the state roads bodies to look at this "as soon as possible", with both councils opposed to option 9A — the current default for a new crossing.
"If this is a possibility, it will be a win-win for everyone, and it's a great opportunity to get a new bridge to Swan Hill," Cr McPhee said.
"I think it is a case of we have the $60 million commitment from the federal government, we need to ensure we get at the correct alignment to approach the state government.
"If this becomes a viable option, we will be looking at knocking on the government's door to build us a new bridge."
Cr McPhee said a new crossing was vital to both sides of the river.
"IT is going to make a great difference to the economies on both sides of the bridge," Cr McPhee said. "A double range is vitally important and will certainly assist both Swan Hill and Murray Downs to develop into the future." He added the decision to place a heritage listing on the Tooleybuc bridge would not negative...
