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Above:
The Cotter Bridge after the fire.
Below: Spr Daniel George, 17 Const Sqn Plant Tp, drives
a bulldozer shifting rock into the river as a foundation
for a temporary road bridge.
Photos by Cpl Belinda Mepham
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Bridge
over troubled water
By
Pte Simone Heyer
ARMY engineers stepped in to help visitors to Canberra’s fire-stricken
Cotter area ford the river once again.
Fires
severely damanged the bridge, near Cotter Dam, and a small group
of engineers were tasked with the building of a new crossing of
the river.
A section
of three from 17 Const Sqn plant troop built the small bridge using
a technique that allowed natural flow of the river.
Capt
Damien Maher said a local company, Williamsdale Quarry, donated
and trucked in all necessary materials, which included crushed concrete-like
rock and was covered with aggregate.
All
in all, a sturdy construction that would last as long as it was
needed.
He
said the task started at midday, and was finished at 1900 the next
day.
From
there, the council signposted then opened the bridge to the public.
The
bridge allowed access back to small settlements across the river,
and the national park.
Assets
deployed on the front line in Canberra
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Two AS350B Squirrel RAN helicopters used for fire spotting
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Two S-70B-2 Sea Hawk RAN helicopters fitted with water buckets
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Four bulldozers to cut fire breaks
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Six 10,000-litre RAAF and Army water tankers
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Two 4500 litre water tankers
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Three Unimog trucks
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One 10,000 litre diesel tanker
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One 10,000 litre A1 Jet Fuel tanker
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Two 12-seater buses
- One
RAAF fire truck
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One RAAF fire ute
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10 15kVA generators to provide back-up power for essential buildings
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Five graders for road clearance
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One 30,000L water tanker truck to support firefighting
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30 personnel with chainsaws
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Six Defence planners
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18 transport and logistic operations staff
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ADF personnel deployed to operate ADF assets
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Accommodation for 400 people at RMC and ADFA
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Bedding and food for Erindale and Narrabundah Colleges Evacuee
Centres
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Horse and stock holding area at Majura Range
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Dog holding area at RAAF Fairbairn
Units
deployed to the ACT
- 17
Const Sqn
- 26
Tpt Sqn
- 5CER
- 8CER
- 2
Tp ERS, IRR
- Land
HQ
- ACT
Workshops
- RMC
RAP
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