Jamberoo Mountain Road is expected to be closed for several months after yesterday’s major landslip. Users of the road will remember too well the disruption that was caused when a nearby section of the road was closed from August to December in 2020.

“The storms and flooding have caused a number of landslips and tree falls along Jamberoo Mountain Road particularly between The Abbey and Misty’s Lane,” says Council’s Director Engineering and Works, Mike Dowd.

“More than 60 metres of road has totally failed at one site, with the landslip and flood waters eroding the base and fracturing the tarmac.”

Jamberoo Mountain Road is now closed to all through traffic between The Abbey and Misty’s Lane and motorists needed to use Macquarie Pass or Picton Road.

Local residents can still access their properties and visitors can reach the Illawarra Fly from Robertson and Minnamurra Falls from Jamberoo.

A section of the undermined road

Mr Dowd said Council faced a significant amount of work and significant costs to undertake the clean-up and repair the damaged section of road.

“To have a total road failure of such a size and in such a difficult location means this is not going to be easy, quick or cheap to fix.

“We are still looking at a number of months and a major bill to get it back in operation.”

Council will seek support through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) – available following Kiama being included in last night’s disaster declaration – to help with repairs.

Mayor Neil Reilly says Council is already in discussions with the NSW Government about Jamberoo Mountain Road.

“Our CEO Jane Stroud yesterday talked to Resilience NSW to discuss the major challenge this presents not just to our municipality, but our region.

“Jamberoo Mountain Road is a vital part of the Illawarra’s road network and when it’s out of action it presents more than an inconvenience to residents and tourists, it has a real-world effect on our region’s economy.”

Mayor Reilly encourages local residents affected by the current storms and floods to access disaster funding support.

Information on the DRFA is available on their website.