Petition

Michelle collected over 950 signatures. Old fashioned, paper and pen - where the community of Geurie called for a new bridge.

Update from Michelle Tomkins, Chairperson of the Scabbing Flat Bridge Action Group – Geurie Inc. as at 23 December 2025:

“[On 22 December 2025], the Scabbing Flat Bridge Action Group – Geurie met with Damien Pfeiffer who is the Executive Director, Partnerships & Integration West, Regional Integration, Planning, Integration and Passenger (PIP) for Transport for NSW.

Transport for NSW has been working on a report for sometime regarding the potential replacement of Scabbing Flat Bridge. 

During this process it became clear that to have the heritage S170 classification removed off Scabbing Flat Bridge was going to be difficult, as a replacement bridge with the same attributes would need to be found that could replace Scabbing Flat Bridge on the S170 register. 

Other similar bridges such as Rawsonville and Payten’s bridge have been removed from the S170 register and Scabbing Flat Bridge is basically the last one standing. 

Therefore, the potential outcome of using this approach would not fair good in obtaining a replacement bridge for Scabbing Flat. 

As a result of this Transport For NSW has broaden the approach to conduct an assessment of all wooden truss bridges as a majority of these bridges no longer meet the transport demands of today let alone the future. 

This assessment approach has been presented to Transport for NSW Executives and Minister Aitchison and they have approved the assessment process. 

See below, extract from approved documentation as provided by Transport for NSW.

‘To enable strategic planning and implementation to address issues of concern with Timber Truss bridges currently listed on Transport’s Timber Truss Bridge Conservation Strategy due to ongoing political interest on the maintenance and rehabilitation works on Scabbing Flat Bridge, Geurie and the service of Timber Truss bridges.’

 The assessment will take approximately 6 months and will be completed by end of June 2026.

Based on the discussions [Michelle Tomkins] had with Damien, it is acknowledged that when the original Wooden Truss Bridge strategy was done in 2012 a lot has changed and the strategy no longer meets todays needs. 

That acknowledgement is a step in the right direction. 

Damien wishes to meet with the community and we are planning to schedule a community meeting early in 2026.” 

Please contact Michelle Tomkins directly ( 0409 949 760) if you have any queries, or wish to be included in information about the upcoming community meeting.

The Scabbing Flat Bridge Action Group – Geurie Inc. has it’s own website (link here) and can be found on Facebook & Instagram.