THE Yarrawonga-Mulwala bridge showdown may play out before the states’ transport ministers with a community group set to present thousands of signatures to the NSW and Victorian governments.
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Former Moira Shire mayor John Lawless is part of the Green Route Community Group that wants to keep the old bridge and is behind a petition which had more than 7000 signatures by yesterday.
“We’ll hopefully get 10,000 (by the end of April) and we’ll have something to go to the ministers and the politicians with,” said Mr Lawless, who collected signatures across the weekend outside the Yarrawonga newsagency.
“We’re finding that our door knockers are getting support from 90 per cent of people ... we get lots and lots of people wanting to save this bridge for walking and cycling.”
Mr Lawless said member for Murray Valley Tim McCurdy has tentatively booked in a May 9 meeting with Victorian Transport Minister Terry Mulder to present the petitions.
The Green Route Community Group will meet Mr McCurdy at Yarrawonga on Thursday to update him on the progress of its campaign.
The group is now waiting for member for Albury Greg Aplin to return from overseas to arrange a meeting with NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian.
The group has forgone the local government process after Mr Lawless claimed the Corowa Council was not listening to what the community wanted.
“Obviously they haven’t done their community consultation because we’re finding the community is right behind saving the bridge,” Mr Lawless said.
The council confirmed at its meeting last Tuesday that the grey route for the replacement bridge was its choice.
It would tear down the old bridge, which would leave a new bridge to stretch over the water between the two towns.
The Moira Council, however, supports the green route.