fbpx
Select Page

2020 Core Values Awards Winner | Golden Ball Bridge – North East Victoria

2020 Core Values Awards Winner | Department of Transport

Department of Transport (Regional Roads Victoria)

Rethinking our traditional approach to public participation during recovery, the Golden Ball Bridge Disaster Recovery Project, presented us with an opportunity to facilitate community influence in the Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) recovery-decision making process.

Golden Ball Bridge, is located along a key Victorian tourism, freight, commuter and bus route for the Beechworth community and Indigo Shire, supporting local assets: internationally renowned food and wine; local tourism operators; restaurants; primary producers; micro-breweries and the significant Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.

The massive overland flooding event of December 13, 2018 devasted residential and business sites, ceased day to day activities and community connections, while damaging significant road infrastructure, including the Golden Ball Bridge, on the
Beechworth-Wangaratta Road.

With our traditional approach in hand, we intended to inform the community of the damage, the required lengthy closure while the bridge was repaired, and provide them with the detour information. We soon abandoned our traditional approach after community recovery meetings revealed they needed the road and bridge open as soon as possible, for their social and economic survival. This was a huge change for the Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) decision-makers, which required adapting their processes to allow for a community-centred approach. We advocated internally and increased public participation to collaborate including involve, consult and inform to better understand how we could support a resilient recovery.

Find out more about the 2020 Core Values Awards winners and finalists in the 2020 showcase booklet.