STEWART Road bridge at Kernot closed on Monday, April 7 and here we are more than a month later and no one is any the wiser about when it will reopen again.
This Wednesday, a petition containing 476 signatures will be presented to council saying that the estimated six-month repair timeframe is unacceptable and will place a heavy burden on our community.
“We, the undersigned residents, business owners, and concerned community members, urgently call upon the Bass Coast Shire Council to expedite the repair and reopening of the Kernot Bridge located over the Bass River at Stewart Road, Kernot.
“The recent closure of this vital crossing due to structural issues has caused significant inconvenience to local residents, farmers, and businesses. The detour required for daily travel is adding unnecessary time, fuel costs, and disruption to those who rely on the bridge, particularly those commuting for work, transporting goods, and accessing essential services.”
They’ve listed four points.
- Prioritise the repair of Kernot Bridge to ensure minimal disruption.
- Seek urgent funding to accelerate the works.
- Provide regular updates to the community on progress and expected timelines.
- Explore temporary solutions to ease the burden on affected residents.
“We urge Council to act swiftly and responsibly to restore this crucial link for our community.”
The petition will be one of the first items of business at this Wednesday’s council meeting with the agenda listing a generic recommendation for councillors to vote on as follows:
“Receive the petition, Urgent Repairs to Kernot Bridge to lie on the table with a report to be presented no later than the August 2025 Council Meeting.”
Councillors may, however, call for an earlier response than that. And if they listen to the local residents they might have to offer some temporary relief while they are “are actively seeking co-funding for the reconstruction works” as stated in their May 15 update on the Engage Bass Coast website
“It’s a pretty major road into the town,” said a member of the Kernot community over the weekend.
“The council really missed an opportunity there.
“They messed it up from the beginning. It had a 20-tonne load limit on it. Surely, they could have lowered that to 8 tonne to at least keep it open while they worked out what they were going to do next.”
The Bass Coast Shire Council’s May 15 Update reads as follows:
Council staff have spoken with numerous stakeholders within the Kernot community to understand the use and purpose of the bridge. Initially consideration was given to carry out minor works to allow reopening for only passenger vehicles in the short-term. However, further investigation found that any works to reopen the bridge will be costly and lengthy.
Therefore, the decision has been made to reconstruct and strengthen the bridge to support heavier vehicle use that supports all the community’s current and future needs.
The detailed design is underway, and Council are actively seeking co-funding for the reconstruction works to reopen the bridge as soon as possible.