Yakoa is the Aboriginal name for the Campaspe River. The bridge is aptly named.
For years locals were challenged by the Australian, NSW and Victorian governments coming up with the $ and agreeing on a suitable crossing point. Then there were the concerns of local governments Indigenous and environmental groups and land holders. Finally, all the ducks lined up and building began.
At a cost of $327.3 million, the new crossing officiallly opened in April 2022 with great fanfare - smoking ceremonies, marching bands, ribbon cutting, people walking across and politicians speaking. Ironically, despite the opinions as to Eastern or Westerns options being the most suitable, this option was chosen and we ended up with 2 new river crossings.
In the shadow of the Yakoa bridge is a walking/cycling path with its very own river crossing. Locals could not understand why it was situated so low, as in flood times this bridge would be under water. Of more concern was it actually becoming a barrier for debris coming down the Campaspe River.
Well you guessed it! In October 2022 when Rochester and Echuca were pounded by the spillway at Lake Eppalock overflowing, the walking track bridge became know as the "beaver dam". Not only did debris gather as water flowed down the Campaspe, it also gathered as the Campaspe reversed its flow from the flooding of the Murray River a month or so later. The high water mark can still be seen on the walking bridge.
The Cache: A small cache hidden in a traditional manner.