For the residents and businesses of Jamberoo, Jamberoo Mountain Road is more than just a scenic route. It’s a lifeline. It’s the alternative path when Macquarie Pass is closed, the link between the coast and the Southern Highlands, and a vital road for tourists and locals alike. But for Kiama Council, this stretch of road has become an ongoing financial and logistical nightmare.

Over the past few years, the road has been closed multiple times due to landslips and severe weather, often for months on end. Repairing the damage has required millions of dollars and significant engineering work. The most recent closure, which lasted an entire year, saw the council grappling with a $4.8 million repair bill, much of which was covered by state and federal government grants.

This reliance on grant funding underscores a troubling reality: while Kiama Council is responsible for maintaining Jamberoo Mountain Road, it cannot shoulder the financial burden alone. The council’s limited resources make it clear that the current system is unsustainable, especially for roads that play a critical role in regional connectivity.

Councillor Mike Cains voiced his frustrations, saying, "Jamberoo Mountain Road is something I have long advocated for. It is unacceptable that the road is closed so often and for such extended periods. Clearly, Kiama Municipal Council does not have the capacity or liquidity to manage the road as it should. When it is closed, it affects the livelihoods of workers and chokes off an important trade route linking the Highlands and beyond. It’s not good enough; the system is broken. The NSW State Government needs to pay us back the money they owe, help us expedite the repair of the road, take back responsibility for its maintenance, and commit to preventative and safety works."

Enter the Minns Government’s new proposal to overhaul the road management system in NSW. The plan aims to introduce a transparent, evidence-based process for recategorising roads so that councils like Kiama can make the case for transferring responsibility for major roads to state authorities.

It’s hard to think of a better candidate for recategorisation than Jamberoo Mountain Road. Its role as a backup to Macquarie Pass alone should qualify it as a regional or even state road. The proposed online portal—promising access to maps, freight routes, and critical infrastructure data—would give councils the tools they need to present clear, data-driven arguments for why roads like this one deserve state support.

For decades, councils have been stuck in a cycle of waiting. Waiting for ad-hoc reviews. Waiting for funding announcements. Waiting for decisions. The Minns Government’s proposal to allow councils to submit road category change applications at any time offers a glimmer of hope that this broken system might finally be fixed.

Kiama Council, for its part, has already called for the NSW Government to take responsibility for Jamberoo Mountain Road. And who can blame them? The road’s recurrent closures have not only drained council resources but have also created ongoing uncertainty for residents and businesses who rely on it.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison has called on councils to engage with the new system and provide feedback. Kiama Council, and indeed every council with a road like Jamberoo Mountain Road, should seize this opportunity.

Because this isn’t just about fixing roads—it’s about fixing a system that has left regional communities to carry burdens they cannot bear alone.