Save Cunneens Bridge - Your community needs you

Date: 06-Jan-09
Author: Paul Budde
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1.     Cunneens Bridge Update

It will come as a relief to the community suffering the problem of limited access to and from Wollombi Village via Cunneens Bridge that, at its meeting on 10 December, Cessnock Council resolved to place on exhibition three options for the replacement of Cunneens [link to documents at the end of this page] - one upstream and two downstream options - and that each of the options must show clearly how each will allow for the retention of the existing historic timber bridge, in both the short term and the long term. Council also resolved to reinvigorate community consultation with Cunneens Bridge Group and others, and recognised the previous work by our community in seeking a good solution.

Support for retaining the existing historic bridge has been sustained and strong from the local community, visitors, the NSW Heritage Office and the Convict Trail Project. Accordingly, in 2007 the Cunneens Bridge Group worked hard with Council on ways to achieve preservation of the timber bridge as a working bridge. There is now huge potential to turn the bridge and its precinct into a superb tourism and heritage asset as a walkway and cycleway - honouring our nineteenth century bridge builders and showing respect for our heritage with an authentic, restored entrance to our unique and cherished village. .

2.     The best option is upstream

Having reviewed all publicly available material, and researched the issues, we believe the arguments for the upstream option are overwhelming, on:

1. Engineering grounds: it has been the stated preferred option of Council officers; it better protects the safety and preservation of the old bridge; it is the only option on which geotechnical test bed investigations have been completed;
2. Historic and heritage grounds: it showcases the 1896 timber bridge and the remains of its predecessors, including 1833 convict stone relics; it allows the development of the ‘Meeting of the Waters' project, with its Indigenous significance, to proceed, which could not proceed if this iconic site were dominated by a concrete structure downstream; it allows the long-abandoned Wesleyan Burial Ground site to be properly recognised by appropriate signage;
3. Landscaping and environmental grounds: the timber bridge becomes part of the Wollombi Walks for residents, visitors and study groups;
4. Tourism grounds: it allows the historic bridge to be linked to the Village and beyond as a walk/cycle/bridle way;
5. Timing: it allows Council to start work immediately on the new bridge, permitting our emergency services and normal farming and tourism access to resume sooner - which is what we are all looking forward to.

The only major potential obstacle to the upstream option - its possible impact on burials in the former Wesleyan Burial Ground - has now been discounted by both the Council and the Heritage Office. Exhaustive research by historian Elizabeth Roberts demonstrates conclusively that there is only one confirmed burial on the site, possibly two. Neither of these would be disturbed by a new road alignment, should the remains still be in the burial ground (which has not been confirmed).

The 2006 Conservation Assessment by Bill Jordan [link to documents at the end of this page] concluded that the original downstream option would lead to the demolition of most of the bridge, except for the convict stone abutments. Given the siting of the just developed, alternative option downstream, a similar outcome seems likely, but there is, as yet, insufficient information to evaluate this fully.

The Cunneens Bridge Group is your recognised community representation in this project and we welcome your ideas, suggestions and support. You can d

Related Documents

• Cunneen's Bridge Plans (1.01MB pdf file)
  Three Cessnock Council options for Cunneen's Bridge for public display dated 12/12/08