'Like for like' Otford causeway not good enough: NF1 convenor
Wollongong City Council will consider a report on repairs to the Otford Road causeway at its next meeting on Monday, 29 May. But with the report recommending "a like-for-like replacement with some small tweaks", it may be too soon for the community to throw another pizza party.
Wollongong City Council will consider a report on repairs to the Otford Road causeway at its next meeting on Monday, 29 May. But with the report recommending a "like-for-like" replacement with some small tweaks, it may be too soon for the community to throw another pizza party.
Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor Warwick Erwin said: "Wollongong City Council may try 'like for like' but Otford residents and NF1 won't let Council railroad what has been promised – higher-level, full-width (two lanes plus pedestrian path) causeway that is capable of allowing greater water flow."
The report recommends Council use a targeted procurement process, rather than invite formal tenders, so works can start as soon as possible. It says the "small tweaks" will improve road safety, reduce blockage of the culverts in heavy rain and allow for the movement of fish in the Hacking River.
Warwick does not believe this goes far enough.
"For too long Wollongong City Council has just patched the old causeway when Council has known it was not up to handling the water flow down the Hacking River," he said. "Residents of Otford have been impacted too many times by the causeway being flooded."
This year's February 9 downpour destroyed the causeway and no vehicles can use it. Council built a temporary pedestrian crossing – a move the community celebrated with an informal opening party in April when Helensburgh's Gallardo's Pizza staff used it to deliver hot fast food to their customers.
However, as noted in the March NF1 meeting report, Otford residents remain concerned about access for emergency services and evacuation in the event of a bushfire.
"This causeway is not only an evacuation route for Otford residents in a bushfire but also an alternative evacuation route for Helensburgh residents," Warwick said. "It is also a detour route when Lawrence Hargrave Drive is closed at Stanwell Tops, due not only to accidents but also roadworks, which has become more frequent due to the instability of the roadway as has been evident in the past month or so.
"How would you, as an Otford resident or parent of a student at Otford School, like to be told that an ambulance you have just called because of a medical emergency will take an additional 30 minutes to get to you because a ambulance from the local Helensburgh station, less than five minutes away via the causeway, can't get there because the causeway is flooded and Lawrence Hargrave Drive is closed due to road works?
"The replacement of the causeway has to be both a Council and State response now."
"Otford Road, Otford – Causeway Repair Procurement" is listed as Item 7 on Council's agenda for Monday night's meeting.
The NSW Government declared the February 9 storm a natural disaster and Council has applied for grant funding from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to fix the causeway.
Council's meeting agenda states: "The grant conditions require the design and construction works to be completed by 30 June 2025. Based upon preliminary conversations with TfNSW, the proposed grant funding will cover a like-for-like replacement of the damaged asset(s). A design for “like-for-like” replacement is currently underway and planned to be completed by late May 2023."
You can watch Council Meetings online via a webcast or in-person at the Burelli Street Chambers.
