Bridging the divide during the wet season

In 2017, a flood on Rocky Creek damaged an old bridge connecting the two parts of Borroloola community in the Northern Territory.

North of the creek is the school, shops and resident housing while south of the creek are fuel stations, the airport, arts centre, museum, Council offices and access to the Carpentaria Highway.

Until the bridge was repaired, residents had to take a 30-kilometre detour, with the detour road also subject to flooding during the disruptive wet season.

Something had to be done!

Marc Gardner is the Acting CEO of Roper Gulf Regional Council.

‘We immediately began the design and consultation process for a new bridge, as well as the confirmation of funding agreements,’ Marc said.

Initially, Council and the Northern Territory Government planned on a bridge design capable of withstanding a once-in-a hundred-year flood event.

‘However following local consultation with Borroloola residents it was requested that the bridge was built to withstand a thousand-year flood event instead,’ Marc said.

‘This added time delays due to redesign, further consultation and resulted in an additional $1.5 million in funding contributions by Council to raise the bridge by 1 metre.’

Construction commenced in September 2020 and was completed in January 2021, with remaining defects expected to be completed by the end of February 2021.

The result is a 9.5-metre high concrete bridge enabling both sides of the community safe travel over the creek at any time.

‘The construction of the Rocky Creek bridge employed up to 7 local indigenous staff who assisted in various aspects of the project from the bridge construction through to civil road works,’ Marc said.

The change gives Borroloola businesses greater certainty in the wet season. Some large construction companies and commercial businesses North of the creek are dependent on regular supplies delivered via the Carpentaria Highway on the south.

And of course all community members have guaranteed access to the shops, police station, health clinic and the Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Association.

The bridge was opened to traffic on the 23 December 2020 but will be formally opened and named in mid-May to coincide with the next McArthur River Mine Community Benefits Trust Board Meeting.

All residents are welcome to attend the event to hear speeches from invited dignitaries.

‘Council have organised for a plaque to be placed on the bridge and we hope to have large community involvement in the event,’ Marc said.

‘The construction project was managed by the Northern Territory Government and the Council and residents of Borroloola are very grateful that all funding partners worked together to achieve a fantastic outcome for the community.’