Blue Mountains City Council is again fast-tracking plans for emergency road repairs following a resolution at Council's 30 August meeting to approve contractor engagement, up to $33 million, subject to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) disaster recovery grant funding approval.
The natural disasters, in March and July 2022, have left an extraordinary damage bill for Blue Mountains City. Almost one-third of the road network was damaged and much of the emergency repairs completed between March and June 2022 have to be done again, following the major flooding event in July.
Council has so far allocated $12.5 million to roads and retaining structures in 2022-23 and the organisation continues to seek further Federal and State Government assistance for the road repair cost. Council has applied for an initial $11 million via TfNSW disaster recovery grant funding, to help cover the cost of ongoing escalated works, and will continue to apply for up to $33 million.
Mayor Cr Mark Greenhill said: "Council's resolution to approve contractor engagement up to $33 million means we can continue to escalate fixing the many kilometres of urgent road repairs, following repeated wet weather disasters. The resolution will enable us to act swiftly and without delay once we have secured the required funding from Transport for NSW.
"This step is necessary as road repairs are becoming backed-up due to the extreme nature of the natural disasters, and their frequency, which has meant that each time we have undertaken emergency repairs following a disaster, we have suffered another event, wiping out many of our gains."
Council still has more than 1000 sites that are listed for repair. The worst hit areas have been Wentworth Falls, Katoomba, Leura and the Megalong Valley, but roads have been seriously damaged in all 27 towns and villages throughout the Blue Mountains.
Given the wet winter weather, and saturated condition of the roads, many areas are only being temporarily repaired. As conditions improve, more permanent resurfacing works will be conducted.
"Council currently has two crews that use jet patching machines, plus a heavy patch crew and two external crews completing emergency works. Council is also working to secure up to an additional five external crews, with state government funding, so that road repairs can be escalated further over the spring and summer seasons this year," Mayor Greenhill said.
"By passing the latest resolution, Council can quickly engage contractors through Local Government Procurement, using approved forms of contract and schedule of rates, meaning the more time-consuming tender process will not be required at this time.
"This is particularly crucial amid a nationwide skills shortage and an extraordinary demand for the services of such contractors following multiple natural disasters across the state."
While Council continues with the emergency road works, we urge the public to remain patient and to report potholes via our dedicate portal.
"I also urge residents not to approach our staff operating the heavy road machinery throughout the City. This is extremely dangerous," Mayor Greenhill said.
For more information on Council's Road Recovery Plan go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/our-road-recovery-plan
Stay up to date on where emergency roadworks have been completed at bmcc.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/potholes
To report a pot hole on a local road go to: bmcc.nsw.gov.au/potholes/report-a-pothole
Photo: Council's new Paveline blower patching machine in action. Council now has two of these heavy machines to do emergency repairs.
