The Shoalhaven road network has been severely impacted by the recent East Coast Low weather pattern, which has brought unprecedented rainfall across all coastal areas in NSW. To date, Shoalhaven Council teams have logged 2,600 sites of damage across more than 250 kilometres of road, making the civil infrastructure damage for this natural disaster larger than that of the Currowan fire in 2019/2020.
Landslips have been a major cause of road damage in the area. In total, 48 major landslips and 114 minor landslips have been logged including several significant landslips at Upper Kangaroo Road, Wattamolla Road, Bunkers Hill Road and Formans Road. These roads are of major concern and are expected to experience traffic restrictions for many months while geotechnical assessments are made, and repairs are undertaken. Alternate access arrangements will be made whilst these repairs are completed.
Four bridges were also damaged or destroyed with heavy rain and flooding, eight causeways have been washed away and 65 culverts/pipes crossings damaged, bringing the damage bill to date to more than $35millon.
Council's engineering and road works teams have been deployed across the city to assess the extent of the damage and make emergency repairs. Works are being prioritised to ensure communities can be accessed and resources delivered to those most in need. However, with more rain predicted in the future, more damage is anticipated, and repair works may be delayed.
Council's leadership team have developed a Natural Disaster Roads Project Office to assess the extent of the situation and prepare for the mammoth repair job ahead. Requests have been submitted to the Local Government Emergency Recovery Support Group and funding will be sought from State and Federal disaster relief grants. The Natural Disaster Roads Project Office will keep the community updated with road works projects and timelines, allowing residents to plan accordingly.
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor, Amanda Findley said, "Council teams have been working around the clock to keep up with emergency road works, however whilst the rain is still with us road conditions will continue to deteriorate."
"We are asking motorists to be patient while the extent of damage is being assessed and repaired and to please, drive cautiously and to the conditions. Our team is doing all they can to ensure the safety of our community, minimise disruptions and establish access as widely as possible," Mayor Findley said.
"The repair of our road network is going to be an enormous and lengthy task and it will require cooperation from all tiers of government to get the job done. We welcome the support and funding recently pledged by both Liberal and Labour parties during the election campaign," Mayor Findley said.
