Residents living along Wallanbah Road, near Nabiac believe it is only a matter of time before the busy thoroughfare is the scene of a serious vehicle accident.
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While approximately 19 kilometres of the 34 kilometre road is sealed, it has been described as a 'hotch potch' of interconnected potholes.
In fact, following the big wet earlier this year one local wood duck was seen having a leisurely swim in one of the many potholes.
Wallanbah Road is in a sorry state, resident, Jim Peach said.
"The sides of the road are breaking up, the road surface has deformed in many places and there has been no attempt for months to repair the landslip other than to cordon off half the road around the landslip," Mr Peach said.
The problem area is approximately 10 kilometres from the Wallanbah and Avalon roads turn-off to Dyers Crossing, he said.
"The Browns Creek Bridge area was impacted by land slippage during the floods earlier this year and the road surface at this point is almost nonexistent."
In the 20 years Mr Peach has lived along the road it has deteriorated with increased traffic as more people move into the area.
"Normally after the rains council comes along and fills the potholes, but eventually they become potholes again."
Mr Peach said the road had become more dangerous as motorists were forced to drive in the middle or on the side of the road to avoid the hundreds of cavities.
Not only has Mr Peach and his wife Judy had a couple of 'very' close and nerve racking calls, they have also been forced to spend thousands of dollars to repair damaged vehicles.
"We have had the suspension go on various vehicles and one time the brake disc fell off after it broke in two," Mrs Peach said.
"Wheel rims have also been distorted and bent."
But, Mr Peach's frustration extends far beyond their gappy road.
Letters to MidCoast Council expressing his concern have gone unanswered.
"They have demonstrated no desire to rectify the potentially dangerous condition of Wallanbah Road, and I understand other residents have complained about the road condition with no response either.
"Australia is not a third world country, but Wallanbah Road is no better than third world roads."
Answering Mr Peach's questions through the Great Lakes Advocate, MidCoast Council earlier this week confirmed a portion Wallanbah Road was scheduled for rehabilitation.
They have demonstrated no desire to rectify the potentially dangerous condition of Wallanbah Road, and I understand other residents have complained about the road condition with no response either.
- Jim Peach
However, motorists will have to wait until the 2023-24 financial year, and just 1.1 kilometre of road from Dargavilles Road heading west has been earmarked for repair.
MidCoast Council operations north manager, Daniel Park said until that time maintenance teams would continue to monitor the road.
"The 34 kilometres of Wallanbah Road has both sealed and unsealed sections of various conditions," Mr Park said.
"In the most degraded sections general pothole patching is the only temporary solution," he said.
Mr Park said four additional parts of Wallanbah Road have also been identified for restoration during the next 5-10 years.
The segments that form part of the rehabilitation/renewal program are assessed using data collected on roads which include road condition, traffic volumes, heavy vehicle volumes, significance of the road within the transport network, proximity to attractors (such schools), bus routes, maintenance costs and overall risk and safety (including accident history).
Mr Park said the portion of the road where the landslip occurred would be repaired by a specialist contractor early in the new year.
"While we understand residents are frustrated with the time being taken to repair flood damaged roads, it's important to understand that embankment failures require some considerable lead time before construction begins in order to assess the geotechnical issues resulting from the failure," Mr Park said.
"They need to be assessed in detail by geotechnical/civil engineers, surveyed and then a suitable design option produced that considers all the relevant geotechnical requirements for that site to ensure ongoing stability.
"This process takes time depending on accessibility to the site, engineering availability and the sheer size and complexity of the embankment failure."
Mr Park said council was also obligated to consult with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) at each step in the process to obtain support for the preferred option.
All designs, scopes and cost estimates must be approved by TfNSW before any work starts in order to secure funding, this administrative process takes further valuable time.
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