This unsafe Kernot bridge was closed in March. Residents would appreciate an update
A new and improved crossing would have a greater weight load and add 50 years to its lifespan.
Jacob Wallace
November 10, 2025
The people of Kernot will soon learn whether federal Labor has managed to find a spare $1.7 million to fix - and then reopen - their bridge.
What happened: On Friday November 7, around 80 South Gippsland residents gathered in Kernot to protest the lack of an announcement on federal grant funding for Stewart Road Bridge.
The protesters were joined by Bass Coast Mayor Rochelle Halstead and councillors Mat Morgan and Jan Thompson.
What’s wrong with the bridge?
Due to its age and concerns that heavy vehicle use was wearing down supports, the Stewart Road bridge (west of Kernot) underwent several assessments between January and March this year.
In late March, an engineer’s assessment deemed the bridge unsafe and it was closed.
Cracks in the supporting beams under the Kernot bridge.
Bass Coast Shire council applied for $1.7 million in federal grant funding in May to repair the bridge and increase its load rating from a 20-tonne limit to 44 tonnes and add 50 years to its expected lifespan.
🗣️Bass Coast Mayor Rochelle Halstead told the Monitor: “The council was initially advised that we would have a response to our grant application in August, and then they suggested October, now it's hit November and we still haven't heard anything. The community is frustrated.”
Bass Coast councillor Jon Temby told the Monitor his primary concern was that emergency services could face delays during the upcoming bushfire season.
🗣️ “We're coming into summer and we want our emergency services to be able to respond to the expected increase in call outs, the CFA especially.”
Halstead said the council continues to chase up with the department of transport but are “getting nothing back”. She said even if funding is granted soon the repairs would not be completed for at least a year.
The council website states the closures “have real impacts, not only on the daily lives of residents, but on emergency access, farm operations, financial planning and the integrity of the structure itself”.
Google Map screenshot of detour.
Where’s the funding?
Federal Member for Monash Mary Aldred said in a video posted to Instagram on Saturday she had written to government departments and had a response from the Minister of Regional Development Catherine King saying an assessment is about to be finalised.
🗣️ “I’m hoping the next step will be to communicate with Bass Coast Shire council that they’ll get some funding to get that bridge fixed,” Aldred said.
The Gippsland Monitor contacted King’s office for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.
