Journey ends for Wattamolla Road landslip remediation
Published on 19 August 2024
The journey to fix three major landslips along Wattamolla Road has come to an end with work crews demobilised and full access restored to the residents of Woodhill near Kangaroo Valley.
It’s been more than two years since severe weather triggered 38 major landslips in Burrier, Kangaroo Valley and surrounds, causing sections of Wattamolla Road to be closed or under traffic control.
Beorn Hulme, Senior Project Manager, has managed the landslip project from its inception and said Wattamolla Road had been amongst the most complicated and challenging sites.
“The record-breaking rainfall, the terrain, the widespread damage and the risks associated with the works certainly provided a logistical challenge for our geotechnical engineers and work crews,” Mr Hulme said.
“The task to fully remediate the three landslips has been a mammoth undertaking resulting in the delivery of a robust and fully remediated road,” he said.
“The end of rehabilitation works and the resumption of both lanes will come as a great relief to residents who have endured detours, weight limits and interruptions to their day-to-day lives and we thank them for their patience.”
The works undertaken have included:
- Earthworks
- Geocell installation to reduce erosion
- Piling for slope stabilisation and capping beam construction
- Drainage improvements
- Road pavement reconstruction
As part of a package of 38 landslips, Wattamolla Road represents a major milestone for Council and its contractor, Symal, as the 37th landslip to be completed. Only Bunkers Hill Road in Bunkers Hill is still underway and due for completion next month.
Symal is also undertaking work on a more recent landslip on Kangaroo Valley Road, Berry Mountain, caused by a natural disaster in April 2024.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government and NSW Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.