THE BELLINGEN/Bowraville Road may once again become a link between the two valleys, albeit for emergency or passive tourism uses.
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Once one of the shire's most scenic tourist routes, the road was closed in 2009 following severe damage from landslips during an intense flood season.
The road is however the only alternative escape route for residents of Spicketts Creek, should their usual exit route via Bellingen become inaccessible.
This makes complete closure impossible.
Long-running negotiations with the RMS resulted in a proposal last year to close the road to public access with a nominal budget of $1 million for associated environmental works and the construction of an access fire trail/escape route.
At their meeting last week Nambucca Shire councillors were presented with a feasibility report, detailing the work carried out so far - which includes the removal of vegetation blocking the route, an investigation by the council's surveyor of landslips and drainage infrastructure with Regional Geotechnical Solutions engaged to provide advice on remediation options and Civil Engineering Contractors consulted regarding suitable construction methods and costs.
Assistant General Manager - Engineering Services, Paul Gallagher, said a proposal for the augmentation of the existing road culverts had been prepared and consultation with NPWS, RFS and Forests NSW confirmed the appropriate level of service was a fire trail suitable for a Category 1 Fire Truck (13 tonne).
“The road will never again be open to normal traffic as in the past - it is simply not a safe enough environment,” Mr Gallagher told the Guardian.
“However it will be open to use as a tourist track for passive recreational pursuits such as mountain bikes and horse riding.”
He said the final report put the estimated cost at $1.5 million, $0.5 million more than originally planned.
“We need that extra half million dollars just to do the basics.”
The report has been sent to the RMS and their response is expected soon.
The councillors also heard that reopening the road as an access fire trail would mean it would no longer be part of Nambucca Shire’s local road network and therefore not eligible for any further funding from the RMS in any future natural disaster or road funding program.
The Guardian has been told this would leave the council solely responsible for any repairs with possible contributions from Forests NSW, the NPWS and RFS.
