Otford community members remain unhappy with Wollongong City Council's consultation process for a replacement causeway after the old one was destroyed in a February 2023 storm. 

The latest Neighbourhood Forum 1 report, provided by convenor Warwick Erwin, states: "Council’s response to NF1’s and residents requests for the design details of the replacement causeway was a 'sketch' superimposed on an aerial photo, as below, but no design details. Note the three debris deflector walls on the upstream side of the causeway."

The NF1 report also states: "Council's response to an urgent request for design details as the concrete was being poured for the culverts was to supply another sketch. This time a side view of the causeway with a car on the causeway. Note only one debris deflector wall on the upstream side.

"Work is progressing on the replacement causeway but no completion date has been given by Council."

Neighbourhood Forum 1 is a local community group that meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm. The next meeting will be at on Wednesday, 8 November at Otford Community Hall. All residents, business owners and workers in the 2508 postcode are welcome to attend to discuss Wollongong City Council activities in the area.

Responding to the Flame’s questions about community consultation and the causeway design this week, a Wollongong City Council spokesperson shared the following statement: 

“When the Otford causeway sustained significant damage in February 2023, there was little choice but to close the road and look to replace the causeway as soon as possible. We appreciate there was, and would continue to be, significant community concern about having this important road link closed, especially considering the bushfire season.

"We’ve worked to fast-track the design to replace the causeway and were able to draw upon works undertaken in 2020 where we investigated a bridge option for the site. This investigation included research into a detailed survey of the area, flood modelling which used confirmed historical flood data, and the Australian Standards for bridge design. This work showed that a bridge span of approximately 90m would be required at this location to provide safe access in major flood events.

"This work was reviewed, and it was confirmed that the geology, topography, and landscape at this location, as well, as the impact on residents and private property, means a bridge would not be a feasible at this location.

"While we value community input into the work of Council, we also need to balance community feedback with the expertise of those who are industry experts in road design, flood mitigation and environmental protection. Feedback from our community is important to what we do, but there are instances where consultation isn’t appropriate like this case where community feedback would not replace industry expertise on the final design. That said, while there has been no formal consultation process on this design and plan, we have incorporated community feedback gathered through forums like Neighbourhood Forum 1 to incorporate additional warning signage and better line marking.

"We’ve shared with the Otford community details of the plan for a replacement causeway on a number of occasions and through different formats. We’ve explained the work that has led to the decision to replace the causeway with a similar design, with improvements to reduce debris blockage and increase user safety, that brings the causeway up to contemporary standards. This includes two reports to Council, media releases, information on our website, social media posts, staff representations at Neighbourhood Forum 1, direct mail outs to local residents and on-site signage.’’

For residents who'd like more information, Wollongong City Council has shared its engagement letter to residents, dated 21 June 2023, and the following web links:

Council reports

• May 2023 (Agenda of Ordinary Meeting of Council - Monday, 29 May 2023 (nsw.gov.au))
• August 2023 (Agenda of Ordinary Meeting of Council - Monday, 28 August 2023 (nsw.gov.au)) and coverage on Council’s social media account.

Media releases

• Rebuilding the causeway on Otford Road (February 2023) Rebuilding the causeway on Otford Road | Wollongong City Council (nsw.gov.au)
• Moving forward on Otford Causeway (May 2023) Moving forward on Otford Causeway | Wollongong City Council (nsw.gov.au)
• Otford Causeway replacement works start early August (July 2023) Otford Causeway Replacement works start early August | Wollongong City Council (nsw.gov.au).

Website

• Dedicated webpage: Otford Causeway | Wollongong City Council (nsw.gov.au)

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