Hawkesbury City Council is calling on everyone to help save the historic Windsor Bridge from being demolished following the construction of the new Windsor Bridge by the NSW State Government.
A community petition, set up by the Defenders of Thompson Square, to save the old bridge is now online with an aim to reach over 10,000 signatures.
To sign the petition visit www.change.org/windsorbridge. People also have the option of coming along to Thompson Square, Windsor on Sunday, July 19 between 9am and 5pm (bookings are essential) to sign the petition and then Ring the Bell.
To book a spot for this visit www.windsorbridgesavedbythebell.eventbrite.com.au.
The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Barry Calvert said the petition needs over 10,000 signatures in order for it to be heard for debate by the NSW Government.
"We already have over 8,000 signatures but we want to see many more, so log on and sign the petition or come along on Sunday, July 19," he said. "I will be there on Sunday morning from 9am and our Hawkesbury Councillors will be there throughout the day."
The old bridge is slated for demolition during this month, but Hawkesbury City Council are campaigning for it to be kept and maintained as a walkway/cycleway for the Hawkesbury community.
A Transport for NSW representative said, "Hawkesbury City Council requested to take possession of the original Windsor Bridge and that Transport for NSW maintain responsibility for the ongoing maintenance for the next 30 years. The cost to maintain the original Windsor Bridge is estimated to be between $14.5 million and $18 million, whether it is used by vehicles or by pedestrians and cyclists. Sections of the original Bridge will remain as part of the heritage interpretation on either side of the river, including the viewing platform near Thompson Square".
In response to these comments Cr Calvert said that Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB) and the Defenders of Thompson Square had independent engineering assessments completed that say the costs for upkeep and maintenance won't be near as high as Transport for NSW say.
"They don't think it'll cost near that much to maintain it, especially without heavy vehicles travelling over it," he said.
"Transport for NSW have maintained responsibility for old bridges in other places in NSW so it's not an unreasonable request for them to do it in the Hawkesbury. Also to demolish the bridge will cost quite a bit, they're not factoring that in.
"Keeping the viewing platform and parts of the bridge isn't very much. We want to connect the two sides of the river.
"They are contradicting themselves by leaving bits of the old bridge there as one of their arguments has been that the old bridge could collapse and cause damage to the new bridge and that's why it needs to be demolished."
Member of the Defenders of Thompson Square, Cheryl Ballantyne, said the group is delighted about councils campaign.
"We applaud the Mayor, Deputy-Mayor and the Councillors for the campaign," she said. "The launch was a great success and it is fantastic to have council campaigning like this.
"It's a re-visioning where the bridge could belong to the community and it could become a community space.
"The space offers so much potential ... whatever the cost would be to maintain the bridge, it would be an investment in Windsor and in the community."
Cr Calvert is encouraging anyone and everyone to sign the petition.
"Whether you are a local business or tourism operator, a resident, a Hawkesbury visitor, a member of a historic society or simply someone who wants to enjoy walking on this heritage bridge, this is your chance to have your say," he said.
Hawkesbury City Council launched the Saved by the Bell campaign last Friday, July 3 at Thompson Square, Windsor and has now placed campaign banners at McGraths Hill, Clarendon and North Richmond as part of the public campaign.
For more information about the petition, contact Defenders of Thompson Square Inc. by email defenders@optusnet.com.au or call Cheryl Ballantyne on 0409 846 382 or Patricia Schwartz on 0419 32 276. For information about Thompson Square visit www.cawb.com.au/thompson-square.html