Cowra Council Urges Community To Have Their Say On Regional Transport Plan - Including The Need For A Second Bridge

RM6749282CIVIL AND AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORSSTOCK & DOMESTIC PUMPSPOOL SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENTSPRINKLERS, DRIP & MICRO WATERING SYSTEMSOUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENTCIVILMONTUESWEDTHURSFRISATRM6749282CIVIL AND AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORSSTOCK & DOMESTIC PUMPSPOOL SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENTSPRINKLERS, DRIP & MICRO WATERING SYSTEMSOUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENTCIVILMONTUESWEDTHURSFRISATIMAGE: Cowra’s low level bridge and main bridge over the Lachlan River. A second high level bridge in Cowra is desperately needed according to Cowra Council, with the recent closure of the low level bridge for repairs and flooding in recent years highlighting this need.

Cowra Council is encouraging all residents, businesses and community groups to share their views on the Draft Central West and Orana Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP), which is now open for public comment until Sunday 14 December 2025.

This draft plan will help shape the future of transport across our region, but Council is concerned that several important local priorities are missing, especially the urgent need for a second mid-level bridge crossing in Cowra.

The SRITP outlines how the NSW Government intends to support roads, freight, rail and community transport in regional NSW over the long term. While some of Cowra’s priorities do appear in the draft, Council’s review shows that it does not fully recognise Cowra’s role as a major freight hub and regional service centre or the infrastructure required to keep our community connected and safe.

Cowra sits at a key junction linking the Parkes Special Activation Precinct, the Inland Rail corridor, Canberra, Wollongong, Sydney and the Riverina.

With five state highway entry points, our town is a vital freight route for central and southern NSW.

However, the draft plan places most of its focus on east–west connections and gives very little attention to the important route through Cowra to the Hume Highway, one of our most significant links to Canberra, Port Kembla and south-west Sydney.

Despite Cowra’s importance to the wider network, the draft plan does not adequately address our biggest transport vulnerability: the absence of a second, reliable mid-level bridge. A new crossing is essential to:

keep Cowra connected during floods or bridge maintenance
support future freight growth linked to Inland Rail
protect and strengthen existing routes
ensure Cowra remains safe, accessible and economically competitiveCowra Council has resolved to submit a formal response outlining these concerns and reinforcing the priorities already endorsed through previous NSW Government regional strategies.

However, strong community input is vital to ensuring that Cowra’s needs are properly reflected before the plan is finalised. Our stance can be read here:https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:b79fd71a-e54a-4330-8482-cf87e4cb29e6

Have Your Say

You can view the draft plan and make a submission through the NSW Government’s have your say portal Or via the drop-in location:

Cowra Optimal Pharmacy Health Hub
8th December
12pm-3pm

Council is asking the community to take a few minutes to explain why improved transport links matter for Cowra’s future particularly the need for a second midlevel bridge to keep our town moving.

Feedback closes 14 December 2025.