Fixing Country Bridges

CLIENT

Clarence Valley Council

PROJECT VALUE

$55M

2022

START DATE

Multiple Sites in Clarence Valley

LOCATION

FINISH DATE

Ongoing

BASEC Engineering was engaged by Clarence Valley Council to deliver full project management services under the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges (FCB) Program.

The program focused on replacing ageing and failing timber bridges with safer, more resilient concrete structures to improve transport safety, connectivity, and reliability across regional communities.

BASEC Engineering acted as the Principal’s Authorised Person, providing end-to-end project management across the full lifecycle of multiple bridge replacement projects.

Our scope included:

  • Project scoping, site inspections, and condition assessments

  • Development of delivery strategies for remote and constrained sites

  • Tender preparation, evaluation, and contractor engagement

  • Contract administration and management under GC21

  • Contractor supervision, progress monitoring, and quality oversight

  • Site sequencing and construction scheduling

  • Stakeholder engagement and coordination with Council and contractors

  • Environmental and heritage approvals and compliance management

  • Program-level reporting and ongoing client liaison

A rolling delivery model was applied to manage multiple concurrent bridge projects across geographically dispersed locations. A risk-based prioritisation matrix was used to determine delivery sequencing, enabling efficient allocation of resources and timely delivery.

BASEC Engineering worked closely with contractors and Council to proactively resolve latent site conditions and constructability challenges, ensuring safe, compliant, and cost-effective outcomes across the program.

SCOPE

BLUFF BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Bluff Bridge was the largest bridge project delivered under the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program and was delivered under exceptionally challenging conditions, having been impacted by two major flood events during the project lifecycle.

Located within the Clarence Valley Council area, the project involved replacement of an ageing timber bridge with a modern, resilient concrete structure to significantly improve safety, load capacity, and long-term performance.

The repeated flood events required careful re-assessment of site conditions, adaptive construction sequencing, and close coordination between Council, designers, and contractors to manage program risk and maintain momentum. Despite these challenges, the project remained focused on delivering a durable, future-ready bridge that strengthens access for local communities, freight movements, and emergency services.

Bluff Bridge stands as a flagship project within the Fixing Country Bridges Program, demonstrating the successful delivery of major bridge infrastructure in a regional environment under extreme conditions.