Kiama Council has again warned that Jamberoo Mountain Road will be closed for some months, with the best option for the repair still to be decided upon and funding needed to be sought.

More than 60 metres of Jamberoo Mountain Road, between The Abbey and Misty’s Lane, has totally failed due to a landslip and flood waters eroding the base and fracturing the tarmac.

Council's inability to guarantee the repairs would be done by the end of November has led to the the cancelling of the L'Etape cycling event which was to use the road twice on its route [L'Etape cancelled for 2022].

“The slope under a bend in the road collapsed due to the sheer weight of stormwater, which then undermined the road,” says Director of Engineering & Works, Mike Dowd.

“The challenge is to totally rebuild the road and to find a way to reinforce the slope underneath to withstand future events.”

Options include gabion baskets and ‘soil nails’ to stabilise the slope, before covering the exposed surface with either shotcrete or specialised mesh.

“Of course these options come with their own challenges such as whether they are suitable for the geology of the slope, and of course the cost factor,” he says.

Discussions have begun with various agencies, including the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, Transport for NSW and Resilience NSW.

“I appreciate every time we have to close Jamberoo Mountain Road it affects a lot of people, from farmers and accommodation providers, to ordinary commuters and school students,” says Mr Dowd.

“However, the decision to completely close the road is not taken lightly, and is for everyone’s safety.

“Please be assured we are working as fast as we can to have Jamberoo Mountain Road open once more.

“But as with 2020, we must do the job properly, otherwise we are risking having to do it twice, and endangering our community and visitors as well.”

Mr Dowd says designs for Wallaby Hill and Foxground Roads, damaged in previous storms, are close to completion, with work on repairs expected to begin in coming months.