The Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed a coalition Government $1.164 million grant for the replacement of the single lane Middlebrook Bridge near Scone.

The total cost of replacing the timber bridge with a two-lane concrete structure will be $2.228 million, with the Government’s contribution delivered from Round 2 of the Bridges Renewal Programme. The remaining money will be contributed by the NSW Government.

Mr Joyce said the Bridges Renewal Programme had provided more than $4.8 million in two funding rounds in the New England Electorate, from Middlebrook, about 10 kilometres to the north-west of Scone, to the Bookookoorara Bridge, east of Tenterfield.

He said the Bridges Renewal Programme underpinned the Government’s support for local bridges, which are vital in ensuring communities and local businesses have easy access to essential services, traffic movement and the efficient transportation of road freight.

The grants will enable the council to replace the single lane, wooden bridge with a two-lane, concrete bridge.

 “This upgrade means the local communities within the Upper Hunter Council LGA will have access to safer and more reliable road access.

“This will not only reduce the time taken to transport freight from farms and local industry, but increase productivity and economic gains.

“These projects were identified as priorities by local government and the works will be managed by local government – showing this Government’s commitment to providing real outcomes from the local level up.”

Upper Hunter Shire Council Mayor, Wayne Beddgood, Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce and the Member for Upper Hunter, Michael Johnsen, inspect the soon-to-be-replaced Middlebrook Bridge.