Cooroy Belli Creek open to traffic

The Cooroy Belli Creek Road Bridge replacement in Cooroy is complete, with the road now open to motorists.

The new two-lane, $1.3 million bridge is wider, safer and stronger, having been constructed with a 100-year life design to reduce long-term maintenance and operational costs.

The original 9.7 metre timber bridge, built in 1929, was the oldest bridge maintained by Noosa Shire Council.

Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister the Hon Kristy McBain said the Australian Government contributed $450,000 to the construction costs of this project, through the Bridges Renewal Program.

“The Cooroy Belli Creek Bridge project is another step forward in the Australian Government’s Bridges Renewal Program.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters such as flooding continuing to place pressure on supply chains, upgrading and replacing bridges to connect communities and reduce freight costs for businesses has never been more important.

“We are investing more than $760 million over a decade in this program, with an ongoing commitment of at least $85 million a year from 2025 onwards,“ the Minister said 

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said this is the third bridge to be improved in the hinterland in the past 18 months.

“The Cooroy Belli Creek Road Bridge plays a critical role in the region’s rural road network west of Cooroy, with about 1,700 vehicles per day using the bridge to access supplies and services.

“We understand that the bridge closure has impacted the daily travel patterns of residents, and we thank them for their patience and understanding during the construction of this critical piece of infrastructure.

“I would also like to thank Council’s staff and contractors who worked hard to deliver the project within five months given the challenging weather and supply chain conditions,” Cr Stewart said.

“Thanks to funding assistance from the Australian Government, there has been a strong focus on improving hinterland infrastructure.”