Two safety incidents on Scabbing Flat Bridge
GEURIE, NSW. Following two recent safety incidents on the century-old Scabbing Flat Bridge, the Scabbing Flat Bridge Action Group – Geurie Incorporated (the Association) has written to two NSW Ministers requesting face-to-face meetings before 31 August 2026.
Association President Michelle Tomkins said the Association is sharing full details of both incidents so bridge users can make their own informed decisions.
"There have been a couple of incidents involving the Scabbing Flat Bridge which have members of the community raising concerns about its safety. I want to be completely transparent, so that users of the bridge can make their own decisions on whether they feel safe using it," Mrs Tomkins said.
Incident one: dropped timber during repairs
The first incident occurred during the replacement of bridge timber recently identified as damaged. While the new timber was being secured, it dropped.
A Transport for NSW safety system in place at the time prevented the timber from falling to the ground, and no one was hurt. The Transport for NSW site team reported the incident to SafeWork as part of its safety process, and the project team paused that stage of the work until SafeWork's investigation is complete, moving on to other aspects of the maintenance in the meantime.
The Association notes the incident raises a troubling question: why was the damaged timber not identified in the initial assessment or has the bridge continued to deteriorate over the past three years while maintenance has been under way?
Either answer is concerning.
Incident two: tyre destroyed by protruding bolt
In the second incident, on 27 June 2026, local Ponto resident Helen Frankham narrowly avoided serious injury when she was driving to Dubbo. As Helen was midway across the bridge, her front left tyre was ruptured by a bolt protruding from the bridge deck. A bolt that secures boards to the bridge.
Mrs Frankham, an experienced driver, kept control of the vehicle and manoeuvred it safely off the bridge.
The tyre was not repairable, and Transport for NSW has agreed to pay compensation of $300.00 to replace the tyre.
Her husband, Evan Frankham, who photographed the bolt, said the outcome could have been far worse.
“My wife had a near miss today but fortunately avoided a major accident. The potential of losing control of the vehicle on the bridge could have been catastrophic and could have affected our family’s life forever. An out of control vehicle on the bridge is also a major hazard for the bridge workers.” Mr Frankham said.
What if this was a school bus?
Local farmer and grazier Claire Booth, a mother of two young children, said the bridge's heritage status appeared to be standing between the community and a replacement.
“It seems to me a school bus tyre could easily run into a bolt on this bridge. If Evan Frankham says he is deeply relieved his wife kept control of the car, the mind quickly goes to the worst case… what happens if it was the local school bus? Would the driver have been able to keep control of the bus?” Mrs Booth asked.
“The message seems clear, the heritage protection of a 1907 bridge, designed for the days of the horse and cart, is being put ahead of the safety of children in the Central West of NSW. When the safety of our children and their right to a safe school bus journey becomes a political plaything, it is a very sad day for NSW,” Mrs Booth said.
Children attend primary and high schools in Dubbo, Wellington and Geurie that catch school buses that traverse the Geurie bridge.
Time for action – meeting with Ministers sought
The Association has requested a meeting with the Hon Jenny Aitchison MP, Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, to put three practical asks:
1. An interim safe crossing.
A temporary modular side-track bridge (a Bailey or panel bridge on a parallel alignment), a measure Transport for NSW and its contractors install routinely, so school buses, freight and residents have a safe crossing while repairs continue.
2. A published end date.
A clear public timeline for the current maintenance program, which has run for nearly three years with no stated finish.
3. A funded replacement.
A funded commitment to a new Scabbing Flat Bridge in the 2027– 28 NSW Budget.
The Association has also requested a meeting with the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, Minister for Heritage, to seek one assurance: that heritage considerations attached to the 1907 timber bridge be removed immediately.
Association President Michelle Tomkins said the community has tried in 2025 to obtain answers from both Minister Aitchinson and Minister Sharpe. Back on 17 September 2025 Minister Aitchinson said in her letter to Mayor Josh Black, “Transport for NSW is investigating the possibility of delisting [the Scabbing Flat Bridge] from [the] Section 170 Register”.
Nothing has happened since Aitchinson’s letter of 17 September 2025.
There is no end in sight, and these recent safety incidents were a timely reminder to all that nearly a year has passed and the heritage listing is still in place.
“We are not asking for anything exotic. A side-track bridge is something Transport for NSW installs as a matter of routine on other projects. An end date is something every road user is entitled to after 968 days of restrictions. And a funded commitment to a new bridge in the 2027–28 Budget is the only answer that fixes the problem.” Tomkins said.
968 days of restrictions
By Sunday 26 July 2026, it will have been 968 days since the 16-tonne load restriction was original placed on the bridge and serious repairs (and temporary bridge closures) continue since 1 December 2023.
The bridge is a critical crossing for families, farmers and truck drivers, and carries the produce of some 450,000 hectares of prime Central West farmland, which is one of Australia's most significant agricultural regions.
Alternate routes come at real cost: many are unsuitable for heavy vehicles, and incidents have already occurred on them. Tomkins said “If the Wellington bridge fails, there is no backup bridge access to Dubbo”. Transport for NSW recently (ie late June 2026) told an NSW Farmers meeting it has no backup strategy for that scenario.
The Association says it expects both ministers to respond with meeting dates before 31 August 2026, and will keep the community informed of their responses.
Michelle Tomkins is available for interview.
Evan and Helen Frankham have consented to the quotes above being included but do not wish to speak with the media (NB: all enquiries regarding Mr and Mrs Frankham via Michelle Tomkins).
Media contact:
Michelle Tomkins
President, Scabbing Flat Bridge Action Group – Geurie Incorporated
Phone: 0409 949 760
Email: tompayn@bigpond.com
There is no end in sight, and these recent safety incidents were a timely reminder to all that nearly a year has passed and the heritage listing is still in place.
“We are not asking for anything exotic. A side-track bridge is something Transport for NSW installs as a matter of routine on other projects. An end date is something every road user is entitled to after 968 days of restrictions. And a funded commitment to a new bridge in the 2027–28 Budget is the only answer that fixes the problem.” Tomkins said.
Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, Minister for Heritage.
We seek one assurance: that the heritage considerations attached to the 1907 timber bridge be removed immediately.
An interim safe crossing.
A temporary modular side-track bridge (a Bailey or panel bridge on a parallel alignment), a measure Transport for NSW and its contractors install routinely, so school buses, freight and residents have a safe crossing while repairs continue..
A funded committment.
A funded commitment to a new Scabbing Flat Bridge in the 2027– 28 NSW Budget.