Millions more have been invested to improve Jamberoo Mountain Road and surrounding stretches. Photo: Kiama Municipal Council.
Infamous roads around Jamberoo and Kiama that were closed for months and cost millions to repair will be better protected from further instability during disastrous weather events thanks to new funding allocated to strengthen the challenging stretches.
Jamberoo Mountain Road, Wallaby Hill Road and Foxground Road will be the focus of an additional $4.5 million received by Kiama Municipal Council to complete its Road Repairs Construction Program after the thoroughfares were extensively damaged during severe storms and landslips in early 2022.
Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Liveability Michael Malone said this additional boost will mean not only are these important connections fixed, but also that there will be less need for further closures and repairs in the long term.
“These extra funds mean we can carry out further work beyond the immediate repairs to reduce the impact of future storms and flooding on these roads,” he said.
“Examples of this are improved drainage, stabilising embankments, reconstructing the underlying pavement and resealing sections of road.”
The reconstruction of Jamberoo Mountain Road closed the road for more than a year. Photo: Keeli Royle.
Some $4.8 million in disaster relief has already been invested in the roads, which helped to fund the reconstruction of Jamberoo Mountain Road. The stretch was shut for more than a year, isolating residents and businesses between Kiama and Robertson until it reopened earlier this year.
Work on Wallaby Hill Road is still ongoing.
“What we’ve experienced while working at Wallaby Hill is a repeated collapse of the strata under the road, which means we’ve had to come up with a new design for our repairs,” Mr Malone said.
“This involves manufacturing new pilings and additional excavation, including additional equipment to do all this.”
“Thankfully the NSW Government, through Transport for NSW, is helping out by providing an extra $2.54 million to cover the increase in costs.”
He said the delays, while inconvenient, are necessary for ensuring the safety of the road and preventing further collapses.
“To simply replace the road, as it was originally constructed, is not an option.”
“The next major storm would see yet more damage, more disruption for locals, and an even bigger repair bill.”
The latest multi-million-dollar investment comes from the Australian Government, with Transport for NSW also providing an additional $260,000 to complete repairs to storm damage at Gipps St in Kiama.
To find out more about Kiama Municipal Council’s Road Repair Construction Program visit council’s website.
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