Across the fireground of bushfire affected properties, many timber bridges were burnt, creating a range of challenges for property owners. In tracking the problem, Councils are working through replacement of bridges on public roads that were affected, but their responsibility stops at the entrance to a property. Any bridges within a property boundary are the owners responsibility. The trouble is, many of these have been in place for a long time and without a safe bridge in place, farms can't function properly, rebuilding materials can't be trucked in and first responders are unable to access the property if needed.

We're working to assist by building up a profile of the scale of the problem, collaborating with regional partners like Phoenix Foundations Housing Relief, Rotary and others, but we need your help. If you have, or know someone with, a burnt out bridge problem, please let us know. Information about the problem will be built up within a secure case management system for us to work with community agencies, engineering companies and others to help understand the size, scope and cost implications of the challenge. We know from speaking with project partners that the information is not being captured about this, so that's a way we can lend a hand.