Blue Mountains News

Contractors are due to begin emergency works this week, following delays in securing additional workers given the widespread consequences of the natural disaster and flooding that occurred across the state in March.

This is in addition to the work that is happening every week by Council road crews, who are doing emergency pothole patching.

“We know residents are extremely frustrated by the state of the roads following the flooding in March, but it has been an extremely challenging period for Council employees,” Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said.

“Staff had planned and marked out a heavy patching program, that was due to commence in February. That is a major task that needs good weather and takes three months to complete.

“But the natural disaster in March – that resulted in multiple landslips across the City and additional emergency work – meant that the heavy patching program had to be abandoned and a total re-assessment of the road network completed, to create a new program of works.

“We currently have urgent road works required in all our 27 towns and villages,” Mayor Greenhill said. “We have had 1 million square metres of roads damaged across the City, which equates to a road that would run from Katoomba to Sydney to Gosford.

“Council has redirected funding to emergency repairs, but it has taken time to finalise the new program of works and secure contractors who can start the works.”

While contractors commence the escalated road works program, ongoing pothole patching work by Council work crews also continues.

Council also has a new Jetpatcher arriving for road repair, after a six-month delay. Council’s previous Jetpatcher had reached the end of its life, after emergency works that have occurred following flooding events in 2020 and 2021.

“Another issue is that it keeps raining. We get a few days of relief but it keeps raining and we can’t do major roadworks while that is the case,” Mayor Greenhill said.

“So, in coming weeks you will see increased activity. However, please join me in hoping for less rain. Because if it comes hard again, that work will be undone.

“We, again, thank you for your patience. Council’s new Revenue Taskforce is investigating ways of generating income to make our City Fit for the Future – as Council faces significant financial challenges going forward, particularly relating to the impact of natural disasters.”