Local families and communities will have full reconnection from the Hartley Valley to Lithgow with the successful awarding of disaster recovery funding to Lithgow City Council to fully repair Browns Gap Road. This funding will restore it to two lanes, connecting the community and reducing congestion on other roads into Lithgow. The construction and rebuilding work to reopen the road in both directions is planned to be completed by late 2026.
The Lithgow City Council has been awarded $4.48 million for this project, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Mayor Cassandra Coleman was pleased with the news saying, "Browns Gap Road is a top priority for Lithgow City Council, and it has been a long process because of the complex circumstances of the project.
"By working with all three levels of government we have taken a step in the right direction towards getting Browns Gap back to its key community connection purpose."
Browns Gap is a crucial section of Browns Gap Road that allows easy access in and out of Lithgow from Hartley Valley but unfortunately it passes through significant mine subsidence country and destabilised slopes. Browns Gap has been operating in various stages of full or partial closure since July 2022 and the re-establishment of connectivity for families travelling to and from Lithgow and the Hartley Valley will be welcomed.
Lithgow City Council has been working in close collaboration with the Australian and NSW Governments to secure funding through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to ensure works are able to be made to complete the repair to Browns Gap Road.
The Mayor expressed her gratitude for the work put into securing the funding saying "I want to thank the team at Lithgow City Council and our partners at Transport for NSW, the NSW Reconstruction Authority, and the National Emergency Management Agency for their dedication to securing this crucial funding."
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, says the Australian Government remains committed to supporting local and critical infrastructure projects, such as Browns Gap Road.
"The Albanese Government is committed to supporting communities that have been impacted by natural disasters as well as better prepare them for future events," Minister McBain said.
"It's projects like this that remind us that we're all in this together, all levels of government have a responsibility to be engaged with local community, addressing their immediate and long-term needs and reconnecting them."
NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison, welcomed the funding saying, "This upgrade will help improve safety and cut congestion for motorists along a key regional route."
The Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining vital regional connections, particularly for communities that have faced prolonged disruption.
"The Minns Government understands how critical this road connection is for families and businesses in the Hartley Valley and Lithgow region," Minister Aitchison said.
