Council adds $700,000 to Pollocksford Road Bridge upgrade
Golden Plains Shire has agreed to contribute an additional $700,000 towards the upgrade of Pollocksford Road Bridge at Gnawarre, following a vote at the 28 July council meeting reported by the Golden Plains Times. The bridge sits on the boundary with Surf Coast Shire, which manages the structure while Golden Plains contributes half the renewal and upgrade cost; revised tender costings lifted the total project cost to about $3 million on top of the $800,000 already allocated in the 2026/27 budget. Cr Des Phelan moved the motion, seconded by Cr Dom Cook, with the Times reporting the additional funds drawn from $410,000 in unspent capital allocations and $290,000 from federal Roads to Recovery funding. Cr Gavin Gamble was the sole vote against, arguing Council should delay and seek state election funding commitments.
Why it matters: The bridge has been closed for about two years on what councillors described as an important connection route for shire residents.