The duplication of the Gobba Bridge has taken another significant step forward after it was named in the Riverina Murray’s Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan. Photo: Dr Joe McGirr Facebook.
The potential duplication of the Gobbagombalin Bridge has taken another step forward to becoming a reality after it was formally added to the Riverina Murray’s long-term Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP).
Calls for the bridge’s duplication have been growing for more than a decade, but have only begun to take shape after Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr launched a petition midway through 2025.
The petition needed to exceed 10,000 signatures to be formally presented and debated in the NSW Parliament, a milestone it achieved in June this year.
With the duplication plans now being named in Riverina Murray’s 20-year SRITP, Dr McGirr said it would only add pressure on the NSW Government to consider the project.
“The inclusion of the need to assess the capacity of the bridge in the draft Riverina Murray SRITP is a significant step that has paved the way for further development of the proposal,” he said.
“Transport for NSW is now calling for public feedback on the draft plan, and I urge everyone who would like to build this bridge to Wagga’s future to provide comments in support of the duplication.
“The plan will be integral to our future, and it’s important that we maintain the pressure on the government to duplicate the bridge by providing feedback that will shape the final draft of the strategic plan.
“I look forward to debating the issue in Parliament this year, thanks to the 10,000-plus people who signed our ‘Bridge to the Future’ petition, so now is the time for our community to formalise their support of a new bridge in response to the draft plan.”
The petition will be debated in the Legislative Assembly on 17 September, which Dr McGirr said would be a valuable opportunity to remind the government of the project’s importance.
Dr McGirr thanked those who signed the petition and acknowledged the support of the Committee for Wagga and the Wagga Business Chamber in helping to gather the required number of signatures in less than six months.
“In further encouraging news, the plan also references the potential need for new train timetables that suit travellers from our region rather than just those in Sydney, so I look forward to pressing that case as discussions continue,” he said.
“I encourage community members to have their say on the plan, with an emphasis on the need for the Gobba duplication, so that we can maintain momentum on the transport developments we require to meet our future needs.”
Community members can have their say on the Riverina Murray’s SRITP here.
