Thursday, 7 April 2022

Members statements

Echuca–Moama bridge project

Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop) (09:35): On Sunday I look forward to joining thousands of members of the Echuca–Moama community to walk across the new bridges across the Murray and Campaspe rivers ahead of their official opening to traffic on Monday morning. After more than 140 years with a single Murray River crossing, drivers and pedestrians will now enjoy safer and easier trips between the towns. I would like to commend McConnell Dowell and their workforce and subbies for delivering the project months ahead of schedule. During construction 400 direct jobs and 1100 indirect jobs were supported, plus a number of local Indigenous-owned and operated companies worked on this iconic project.

The new Murray River crossing will be known as the Dhungala Bridge, and the new Campaspe River crossing will be called Yakoa Bridge, with Dhungala and Yakoa the respective names in Yorta Yorta language for the Murray and Campaspe rivers—a more than appropriate recognition of the region’s rich and proud Indigenous heritage. I would like to thank the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, the Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Cummeragunja Local Aboriginal Land Council, who collaborated to name the bridges.

The Echuca–Moama bridge project will transform travel between the border towns. It is a landmark project, and I am proud to say it is being delivered by the Andrews Labor government. After decades of neglect, talk and empty promises from local National Party members, it is being delivered by the Andrews Labor government.