Noorumba Bridge

In 1994 the decking on the bridge on the fire trail linking Thorpe Road with Kingswood Road, North Engadine was severely damaged and needed to be removed. Since then, Sutherland Shire Region Guides has been working towards replacement of the decking.

In a joint project between the Sutherland Rural Fire Service, 8th Combat Engineering Regiment of the Army Reserve and Sutherland Shire Region Guides, the decking was replaced during September 2002. This project was also supported by the Sutherland Shire Council, Sutherland Local Area Command (NSW Police Service) and Sydney Water.

Completion of this project has resulted in several benefits for the residents of the local communities of Woronora and North Engadine, including:

• improved management of emergency situations (such as bushfire) by assisting in evacuations, allowing rapid transfers of casualties to hospitals, and facilitating the movement of specialist vehicles; and
• greater recreational use of the fire trail by local residents.

Noorumba Campsite has become the base for our Region Rock School. Rock School is an extremely popular activity that is run jointly with the Scouts of South Met Region. Many Scouts and Guides have experienced the exhilaration and challenge of abseiling at the site. Many Leaders, Guides and Scouts have gained the necessary skills through Rock School to gain their abseiling qualifications.

The site is also used for the teaching of bushcraft with many outdoor activities being held there.

Our thanks go to the Sutherland Rural Fire Service for their donation of $15,000 to this project, and to Sutherland Shire Council for their donation of over $20,000. These donations were used to pay for the materials costs of the project.
Our thanks also go to the Defence Department for its financing of 8CER which provided the personnel and infrastructure necessary for the project's completion.