Why have Labor and Dr Holland betrayed us?

Why have Labor and Dr Holland betrayed us?

Hello everyone,

On Wednesday, Bega Valley Shire Council voted to accept the new agreement with the Labor Government and Transport for NSW. This means the State government is giving an open cheque to BVSC to destroy "our" bridge.
As a result, Dr Holland posted the above photograph, declaring Labor was delivering the new Cuttagee Bridge - a two lane concrete monstrosity with a shared pathway.
His Facebook post included: Working with Premier Chris Minns, Transport for NSW has committed to fully funding the delivery of the new Cuttagee Bridge which was formally accepted by Council.
Thank you to everyone who has shown support and to call on Bega Valley Shire Council to start work on the bridge. There is more to do and I’ll keep working to deliver the new Cuttagee Bridge.
The next morning, I sent this letter to him:
Since seeing your Facebook post, I have shed tears but now I've had time to reflect, I am disgusted. I am still struggling to be polite.

By announcing the destruction of Cuttagee bridge, it is clear you obviously have no idea of the importance of its heritage, and no regard or respect for the local community or environment. Or for legislation designed to protect the environment and ensure climate change adaptation  i.e. the Coastal Management Act.

The computer image of your vision for the bridge  still has vegetation growing alongside the bridge. That vegetation will be destroyed in the new bridge’s construction as sixty metres or more of vital vegetation, a buffer to the road from coastal erosion, will be cleared for the temporary bridge. It will take decades to grow back as it currently grows on sand, if climate change and revetment walls allow it to.  To say the bridge on the left reflects the heritage of the bridge on the right is delusional. The unnecessary shared pathway  goes nowhere and the traffic calming effect of a single lane bridge is lost. 

The people whose preferences your decision is appealing to are unlikely to vote Labor, but are more likely to vote One Nation, Shooters Fishers and Farmers or National.

You made an election promise and have not delivered. You have been duped by the Liberal members of council and Transport for NSW. 
Their bizarre insistence on a two lane concrete bridge is fanatical. It is hugely expensive, will take much more time to construct and will have a more negative impact on the natural environment of the area.

And one must ask why? Is skulduggery afoot?

Many years ago, when Council attempted the same destruction of the Murrah Bridge, a short lived community campaign succeeded in Council seeing sense, and both bridges were locally heritage listed. Why have we had to campaign for over 5 years, and still hit a brick wall with Council and TfNSW? And now you and the Labor government.

If Wallaga Lake Bridge satisfies safety and other concerns,  the same can apply at Cuttagee.

I doubt you will read this personally, and as Council has shown, community engagement achieves nothing but wastes the time and energy of those who care. I should know better after 50 years volunteering with environmental issues, but I genuinely thought you would be strong, sympathetic and aware of the rational arguments put forward  and be willing to stand up to council. Sadly that has proven to be a misplaced hope.

I am disgusted with you, Minister Aitchinson, Mr Minns and Labor, as well as Ms O’Neil and Mr Daly. No wonder voters are abandoning the main parties for independents.

The State Government must stop all financial funding for the council options, which require the destruction of the 134 year old, heritage listed Cuttagee bridge.

Dr Michael Holland's support for the destruction of the bridge is causing extreme anguish to people who voted for him and are deeply distressed by this betrayal.

If you are on social media, please let Dr Holland, Councillors O'Neil and Daly know that Labor has reneged on its election promise, and the next election is only 10 months away.

The battle to save Cuttagee bridge is not over yet!
We also have a new website: https://restorecuttageebridge.com.au/

Thank you, supporters, including the recent additions.

Karen