Bridge restorers visit North Coast forests

HERITAGE timber bridge restoration experts from Placemaking NSW, Transport for NSW and Broockmann Water Advisory have visited the North Coast for a guided tour of native hardwood production forests.

The tour, facilitated by the Forestry Corporation of NSW’s (FCNSW) Sales and Planning teams, offered an opportunity for the NSW Government’s bridge team to see first-hand where the timbers used for their restoration work are sourced.

“This was a fantastic opportunity to connect the dots between sustainable forest management and heritage timber bridge preservation,” said Carl Broockmann, Managing Director at Broockmann Water Advisory.

“It’s great to see how our work in the forest directly supports the longevity of some of the state’s most treasured landmarks and most important public infrastructure,” he said.

Placemaking NSW manages the Pyrmont Bridge, the oldest continuously operated electric swing span bridge in the world.

The bridge, constructed in 1903, has two steel spans and 12 timber spans built with over 900 tons of hardwood timber sourced from the North Coast of NSW.

The NSW Government has announced a contribution of $59.6million to the restoration of Pyrmont Bridge timber trusses over the coming 10 years, in order to keep the pedestrian and cycleway route open between Pyrmont and the Sydney CBD.

“High quality and durable timbers of large diameter with specific strength and durability requirements are needed for the Pyrmont Bridge restoration that are only available in NSW native forests,” said David Glassod, a bridge maintenance supervisor at Placemaking NSW.

Transport for NSW is also responsible for maintaining 27 timber truss road bridges of historical and engineering significance across NSW.

“Many of these bridges will require restoration over the coming 10 years and will require a steady supply of hardwood timber sourced from the North Coast region,” Alan Pottie of Transport for NSW said.

“These structures require premium-grade timbers such as ironbark, tallowwood, and blackbutt — species native to NSW and not available anywhere else in the world.”