Troubled bridge over blue-green waters

I support the idea of celebrating the contributions of immigrants to Australia. My mother and wife were both “new Australians” and I enjoy our multicultural Australia.

But I detest the prospect of this footbridge eyesore anywhere over Lake Burley Griffin. A ‘blot on the landscape’, interferring with people’s enjoyment of the lake, it would risk generating public antipathy to the very things it seeks to promote.

A far better use of donated money would be to set up a trust fund with the interest used to fund community projects that help new and established Australians of different races and cultural backgrounds (particularly young people) meet socially and learn to enjoy each other’s company and difference. This could help to prevent future ‘Cronullas’.

I think the bridge is a fantastic idea – but why not have it across LBG along the Axis from Reconciliation Place to the bottom of Anzac Parade? What a great walk that would be! All the way from Parliament House to the top of Mt Ainslie …

Are you all also aware of the Welcome Wall? It’s for the same purpose already in Sydney and it’s a national project, so why’s someone trying to do the same thing here?

Welcome wall website – http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=404
“As a truly national project, the Welcome Wall honours migrants wherever they landed and wherever they live.”

Yep, Vonbare’s links were great examples in Castleford – their other regeneration projects include the “Tickle Cock Bridge Underpass”. I wonder what goes on at that end of town?

I think it is a monumental waste of time and money.

Every road, structure and building in this country is already a monument to the work of immigrants. I would prefer the money be spent safeguarding something unique and truly Australian: Aboriginal languages.

It’s a lump, ugly, gets in the way of watercraft and they won’t tell me if you are allowed to fish from it. Put the sodding thing in Upper Stranger Pond, or in Lake Turdynong (build it out of the 3.82 million shopping trolleys that are in there)

The bridge in its current design is too ugly for this part of Canberra. I hope it does not get the go a head. any way wouldn’t a few leaky boats making trips across the lake better simulate Australias immigration.

Vonbare said :

This bridge brought together a community, , it brought regeneration and a new feeling to an old industrial area. It made good use of public space.

The present proposal will do none of those things.

I’m not against a new bridge at all(personally I think it should be further down towards the dam), but why in God’s name would we want a hideous monstrosity like they are proposing. In an era of engineering wonders we could have a lovely bridge. Like this community led project in the UK
http://www.dezeen.com/2008/07/17/castleford-bridge-by-mcdowellbenedetti/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/content/image_galleries/castleford_bridge_gallery.shtml?1

This bridge brought together a community, it linked to sides of the town, it brought regeneration and a new feeling to an old industrial area. It made good use of public space.

Give us something to be proud of, that makes us interact with the space created. Give us something that inspires and motivates people to look at the environment around them differently. Challenge our concepts on design and what a bridge can be used for – they have already started this concept by having the name plaques, let’s not stop there!

Oh and don’t get me wrong, reaching agreement on this wonderful bridge in Castleford was not an easy ride – it went over schedule and over budget, mainly due to the lack of consideration originally given to the local community.

Unloved unfunded undesired impractical. An eyesore waiting to happen.

This is the ugliest bridge I’ve seen in a long time.