A community meeting for Wilsons Creek Road residents next Monday November 19 will hear that the creek will need to be diverted as part of plans to secure the road.
To be held from 6pm at the Wilsons Creek Public School, the meeting will outline the scope of the damage to the road, restoration works to date and next steps.
Council’s acting general manager, Phil Holloway, said fixing the landslip was not a straightforward process and involved several government departments due to funding and the road’s creek-side location.
The restoration works require part of the creek to be reclaimed. This means the creek will need to be diverted and all environmental and flooding protections need to be considered.
‘Design works to fix the road are ongoing and Council has recently received a permit, with conditions, from the Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries).
‘The permit requires substantial work by council staff and the consultants with the aim of protecting the environment of Wilsons Creek.’
As well as the environmental considerations required by Fisheries, Mr Holloway said staff needed to assess any flood impact of the works and if there would be an adverse impact on upstream properties.
Mr Holloway said as a requirement of the natural disaster funding, Roads and Maritime Services have been kept informed at all stages.
To assist with traffic movements and the recent lowering of the road weight limit, Council has also sought the assistance of the NEWLOG inspectors to enforce the load limit.
‘The load limit is in place due to the unstable nature of the road and for the ongoing protection of the road, and safety of residents, while we work towards full restoration.
‘The recent reduction from five tonnes to three tonnes was in direct response to further cracks forming in the road pavement.
‘Overweight vehicles will contribute to further deterioration and we ask that all residents comply with this load limit as it is in their best interests that we maintain access until we are in a position to undertake full restoration.’
Mr Holloway said he was aware that the need for water and danger of bushfire were becoming an issue for some Wilsons Creek residents.
BSC infrastructure manager Michael King told ABC radio this morning the council was in negotiations with the Rural Fire Service on how to best manage the problem.
