Detour found for Araluen Road residents

A detour has been found around the landslip on Araluen Road.

Eurobodalla Council will start work early next week to clear and connect a number of forest trails around Knowles Creek, providing a temporary access road to Moruya for people living west of the slip.

Director of Infrastructure Warren Sharpe OAM said quick work by Council and the cooperation of Forestry NSW means residents will shortly be able to get around the slip, which has completely blocked Araluen Road around 23 kilometres west of Moruya since Monday afternoon.

“If the weather is kind, we’ll get started early next week and should have a decent road ready the week after,” Mr Sharpe said.

“We need to remove a number of fire-damaged trees, clear and grade some sections, while others will need a bulldozer to get them up to scratch.

“I want to thank our colleagues at Forestry Corporation NSW for their willingness to help us find a solution. They’ve been fantastic.”

Work will also get underway next week to rebuild Bradburys Bridge, located on Araluen Road between the landslip area and Moruya. Winter floods damaged the bridge beyond repair. Crews will also be stabilising roadside slopes in the area.

After a punishing year of fires and floods, these repairs had been planned to start at the end of October and the road has been closed to general traffic since then. While work continues, access will be limited to residents only.

Meanwhile, the landslip site was inspected by a geotechnical engineer on Wednesday, who confirmed the potential for further slips in the area.

“Substantial additional material had fallen since Monday and the slip was still mobile, moving and trickling while we stood there,” Mr Sharpe said.

“Right now, the only possible action is no action in terms of attempting to clear the road. It won’t be a quick fix.

“We’ve secured the area with water-filled barriers and the area is a no-go zone, with signage in place.”

Work will start on the temporary detour for residents early next week.