The picturesque access bridge at Malmsbury Reservoir will be reinstated this month after an extensive restoration process.
Restoration to the heritage-listed bridge included replacing its foundation and repairing and refurbishing the steel bridge structure, its cast iron supports and bluestone abutment.
The bridge ceased operation in 2017 after an engineering audit determined it was no longer safe for use.
Cooliban Water asset lifecycle general manager Marsha McMonigle said she was looking forward to seeing the bridge serve its purpose once again.
“Several years of careful planning have been invested in this project. The painstaking work then began to repair and replace parts of the walkway which had buckled and corroded over more than 100 years,” Ms McMonigle said.
“We’ve also been able to restore the coating of the structure to match its original white colour,”
Ms McMonigle said that Cooliban Water worked with Heritage Victoria, Dja Dja Wurrung and other stakeholders in the lead up to the works and that the $895,000 project will preserve the structure and provide service staff with safe access to the reservoir tower.
Malmsbury Reservoir was built in 1870, with the current dam outlet, tower and 50-metre long access bridge constructed in 1906.
Oscar Parry
