Productivity losses from ageing bridges

Bray Drain flows through his property into Lake Hawdon South and into Lake Hawdon North, but since it was made a nature reserve a few years ago, he says the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources has not kept up regular controlled burning. Thick vegetation has slowed the flows down considerably.  

“We have been lucky we have had three dry years before this wet one, but the profile is full and if we get an early break and wet winter next year, the water may not get away and could flood upstream of us,” he said.

Mr Hurst’s biggest concern with the drainage network is a narrow bridge he uses to access the northern part of the property. He has been waiting for more than a decade to have it replaced.

He said the 4.5-metre-wide bridge was making it difficult to move machinery and livestock. 

The alternative is a 30-kilometre round trip to the other side of the property.

There are also road safety concerns, with two sharp bends leading to the bridge and several “near misses” in recent years – a concern for the emergency services.

Load limits of eight tonnes and then 17.5t were temporarily imposed a few years ago due to its deteriorating state.

Mr Hurst strongly opposes farmers being levied and believes the additional money must come out of general revenue as there are flow-on economic benefits from the increased productivity.

“Everyone prospers,” he said. “The local engineering company gets more work and the local suppliers and so on. South East agriculture is such a big contributor to the state and the drains are vital to it, but they (the SA government) are just ignoring their responsibility.”