Mounting pressure from disgruntled residents has split Penrith Councillors’ views on the future and design of the Nepean River Green Bridge.
Last year, after taking a bold stance against three proposed designs for the $20 million footbridge, Council endorsed a design by Ki Studio, which was later adopted by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
However, Councillors have been inundated with complaints about the bridge, ranging from issues with the consultation process through to the design and alignment.
On Monday night, discussion about the Nepean River Masterplan was overshadowed by the controversial bridge, with Councillors divided over what action Council can or should take.
“With money now coming in for the Jane Street Extension, it doesn’t make sense to spend over $20 million on a footbridge, when we will have four lanes on Jane Street reduced to two lanes over Victoria Bridge, we could be looking at duplicating the bridge instead,” Cr Jim Aitken said.
“I have received over 35 emails now from residents who would like to see a greater level of planning,” he said.
Cr John Thain said he too has been inundated with correspondence outlining concerns about the RMS Bridge.
“I was at the Rowing Club the other night and from there you can see there is an access pathway for the rail line. I don’t understand why the State Government couldn’t build something similar on the other side of the Victoria Bridge,” he said.
Cr Karen McKeown said that Council had been consulted on the Green Bridge and that it is a sorely needed piece of infrastructure.
“We had input and Council through a panel was consulted by the RMS, who also did a lot of community consultation,” she said.
Cr Greg Davies agrees, saying that the State Government project will go ahead.
“It is better than nothing and it will certainly get used. I don’t think there’s any reason to change the design,” he said.
But Emu Plains architect, Robin McKay, says there are a great many reasons to change the current design.
“All pictures of the current design to date are either distant aerial views or a view from within the bridge, giving no sense of the enormity of the structure’s relationship to people on the ground or intrusion into the view of the Nepean River,” he said.
The height of the proposed bridge is 12 metres according to the RMS Bridge Design Evaluation Report. The height of Victoria Bridge railway crossing is approximately four metres.
“Once people realise the true size of the bridge, they won’t want it built over the Nepean River,” he said.
“A viable alternative is to build the footbridge next to Victoria Bridge.”
Cr Prue Car says the Bridge is the State Government’s issue, but Cr Kevin Crameri disagrees.
“I feel that we are as responsible as the RMS because we voted for something ‘iconic’ rather than something plain and simple,” he said.
