Design work on a replacement for The Bight Bridge at Wingham will soon begin after the project was deemed eligible for early funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority following last year’s floods.
Member for Myall Lakes, Tanya Thompson, welcomed the news, saying the funding will allow MidCoast Council to begin detailed design work for the new bridge after the structure was damaged in the May 2025 flood.
“It is fantastic to see this early funding secured so that MidCoast Council can begin the design and reconstruction of The Bight Bridge,” Mrs Thompson said.
“This is the news residents and businesses in Wingham and Tinonee have been waiting for. It is an important step forward in restoring a key connection for our community.”
The Bight Bridge has been the subject of ongoing assessments since the flood event, which disrupted a key local transport route used by residents, farmers, and businesses.
Mrs Thompson said restoring the bridge is a priority for the local community.
“The Bight Bridge is vital for locals, farmers, and businesses who rely on it every day, and seeing progress towards rebuilding it gives people confidence that recovery is moving in the right direction,” she said.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority has now approved early funding to support detailed design for the replacement structure. The approval marks the first significant milestone in the reconstruction process, although a construction timeline has not yet been confirmed.
MidCoast Council Mayor Claire Pontin said the decision is an encouraging step for residents who have been dealing with the disruption since the bridge was lost.
“The Bight Bridge is an important piece of local infrastructure, and we know that residents are finding life without the bridge very difficult,” Mayor Pontin said.
“This approval is the first significant milestone for the bridge, and we are very pleased to be able to get going on it. We are also happy that money is being provided upfront to fund the next stage of work.”
MidCoast Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, Rob Scott, said council understands the community’s desire to see construction begin as soon as possible.
“We appreciate the patience of residents and road users while this process moves forward,” Mr Scott said.
“We are undertaking all of the engineering work concurrently so we can get the design done and start construction as soon as possible.
“There are still several important steps to complete before construction can begin, and we will keep the community informed as more information becomes available.”
While some residents had hoped the replacement bridge might be significantly higher, Natural Disaster Recovery Arrangements do not allow projects to increase the level of service or flood immunity beyond the previous structure.
However, the new bridge will be slightly higher than the former crossing and will be designed to provide a similar level of flood immunity while meeting current engineering and safety standards. It will also be constructed to better resist uplift forces and debris loads during major flood events.
MidCoast Council says further updates will be provided once the design phase is completed and the timeline for construction is confirmed.
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