In 2022, as a result of the extensive rain events, the Lithgow LGA experienced 5 natural disasters which caused major damage to local infrastructure.
The Council has been supported by Resilience NSW, who has set up the framework for the rehabilitation funding and the process by which Council can claim those funds back. To date the Council has spent over $20 million on road and infrastructure rehabilitation in addition to its regular maintenance works.
The Council understands that many in our community are still impacted by roads which were significantly damaged and continue to deteriorate.
As of the 30th of June, the Council is required to seek approval from Resilience NSW to conduct disaster rehabilitation works resulting in ongoing delays. Any works conducted on rehabilitation prior to the approval from Resilience NSW will not be eligible to be claimed back. Council has submitted a claim for $19million and is awaiting approval to commence work on the following rural roads:
- Glen Davis Road
- Glen Alice Road
- Blackheath Creek Road
- Browns Gap Road
- Coxs River Road
- Cuthill Road
- Dark Corner Road
- Fields Road
- Hampton Road
- Hartley Vale Road
- John Mackey Drive
- Lowther Siding Road
- Magpie Hollow Road
- Mid Hartley Road
- Pipers Flat Road
- Portland Sunny Corner Road
- Range Road
- Sodwalls Road
- Wolgan Road
These works are additional to the capital works program and maintenance listed in the 2023/24 Operational Plan (available on Council's website www.council.lithgow.com). Contracts have been awarded and once approval has been received works will commence to ensure they are completed within the required timeframe of June 2025.
A further claim has been submitted for the works on Wolgan gap (new road), Browns Gap (slope stabilisation) and Marsden Swamp Road rehabilitation, which have had preliminary geotechnical works started to assess the rehabilitation works that are required, these works are worth an additional $36.2 million.
We understand that for many this is inconvenient, and that motorist safety is of concern. Like the community, the Council is frustrated with the process and length of time it is taking for these approvals. Safe roads are critical to accessing some of our more isolated communities and growing our economy. The Natural Disaster Recovery Framework has proven to be out of step with the changing climatic conditions and needs of rural communities. The Council will continue to advocate for a more streamlined process to avoid the issue of lengthy delays impacting our community in the future.
