Bridge Warriors renew letter-writing campaign

The St Hubert's Island Bridge Warriors group has renewed a letter-writing campaign, following meetings group members have held with Member for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks and Central Coast Council staff.

The group, which is seeking a new design for a proposed pedestrian barrier on the bridge, has called on supporters to write to the council.

Committee member Ms Vicki Johnson said the proposed design was the same style as erected on the Brian McGowan Bridge in Gosford.

She said: "The community is continuing to object strongly to the design which is more suited to a highway overpass than a suburban bridge overlooking the picturesque Brisbane Water."

Group member Ms Lindy Wilson said that, at a recent meeting, council staff were focussed on defending their design.

She said that the group had produced a number of alternatives designs that came from a quick internet search.

"We found a number of designs in five minutes."

These included a barrier on Anzac Pde in Moore Park.

She said the group did not have a preferred design, but "there must be other alternatives ... to expedient ugly things that lack design".

Ms Wilson said that, internationally, a number of different approaches had been taken.

"This wouldn't happen in Italy.

"They would put some design to it."

She said the council staff had undertaken to "look at" different designs.

Ms Johnson said Gosford Council had objected strongly to the same design of barrier for the Brian McGowan Bridge in 2007.

"They considered that the barriers would impact on the aesthetics of the bridge, increase blockage of views and detract from its gracefulness."

Ms Johnson said: "They were ugly then and they are ugly now."

Ms Wilson said the Brian McGowan Bridge had no residential area overlooking it.

The St Hubert's Island bridge was in a residential area, with high numbers of tourists.

She said photographers came to the area to take scenic sunset pictures.

Residents did not want a barrier on the bridge that made the area "look like a penitentiary", she said.

She said the group was now calling on supporters to write to the council reiterating their request for a new design and to ask council staff "to show that they are listening".

SOURCE:

Media release, 9 Nov 2020

Lindy Wilson, Bridge Warriors 2257