In its unsuccessful application for funding under the Regional Development Australia program, Uralla Shire Council said the approach curves are sub-standard and estimated a new bridge and approaches that would be above the one in 100 years flood level would cost slightly more than $3million.

Rose Higgins from the Commercial Hotel in Bundarra has experienced its inconvenience on more than one occasion and is leading the push for a new flood-proof bridge.

“Every time it rains the bridge goes under,” Mrs Higgins said yesterday.

“We’re cut off from Uralla, Armidale and Inverell, we just can’t get to the east. We need a new bridge built that’s flood proof, that’s why we held the meeting,” she said.

Stephen Kellett, a member of the new committee, told The Inverell Times a replacement bridge is long overdue.

“It does have impacts beyond the reaches of Bundarra,” Mr Kellett said.

“The area through Bundarra is a key strategic route. Bundarra is the ‘front door’ for the Inverell region and I suppose Inverell thinks of itself as the ‘front door’ to the north west.

“It’s the people in the wider area who will benefit from improvements to the Emu Bridge. And another thing to consider, a thought that has occurred to a lot of people, this bridge is 100-years-old and has been weakened by constant flooding and, God forbid, could fail at a critical time,” Mr Kellet said.

Senator John Williams through his support behind the committee yesterday and said a concerted effort will be made to seek funding for a replacement.

“Students living on the southern side of the bridge cannot get to Bundarra Central School unless their parents drive them on a longer alternate route via Torryburn and Gwydir River Roads, and on many occasions these are also impassable,” Senator Williams said.