Two sections of the road embankment on Wisemans Ferry Road at Gunderman were severely damaged by weather events in 2012.  The natural disaster flooding and storm events of 2021-22 further impacted Wisemans Ferry Road creating widespread damage to the road pavement and embankments, with landslides and rockfalls occurring at multiple locations at multiple sites through Spencer, Gunderman and Greengrove. 

Immediate emergency works were undertaken by Council to reinstate road access and ensure safe use of the road.  Signage and barriers were put in place at some sections with reduced speed limits, and one section (approx. 10km west of Spencer) requires full road closures during heavy rain events due to slope instability and driver safety.  

Since this time, we have completed remediation work at several sites (including road pavement works totalling 10km and the construction of a drainage culvert) and continued to work with geotechnical and engineering consultants to accurately determine the extent of more permanent works along Wisemans Ferry Road.  This investigative work has enabled Council to proactively apply for the significant grant funding required to proceed with the specialist design and construction of more permanent works to restore and improve the road infrastructure to better withstand severe weather events and natural disasters. 
Read more about Wisemans Ferry Road closure during heavy rainfall
 

Since the time of emergency works, we’ve continued to work on solutions to bring the roads impacted by weather events back to the pre-disaster condition, and to withstand natural disasters better. 

For Wisemans Ferry Road, these works include: 

• The completion of remediation works at multiple sites, including road pavement works totalling 3km and a new under road culvert.
• Road remediation works at multiple sites (stage 1 completed).
• Ongoing maintenance to fill potholes, repair cracks on the road surfaces (stage 1 completed).
• Working closely with geotechnical and engineering consultants to accurately determine the extent of more permanent works along Wisemans Ferry Road, which includes full embankment design and construction.
• Using the results of this investigative work to proactively seek and apply for all grant funding opportunities for the design and construction of more permanent restoration works, including returning to two travel lanes along the entire length of Wisemans Ferry Road.
• Working closely in partnership with the Australian and NSW Governments, including Transport of NSW to secure significant funding that’s required to fully restore and improve resilience of the road infrastructure on Wisemans Ferry Road. 
• Undertaking a tender process to engage specialist contractors to carry out the complex and extensive infrastructure works on the embankment, road, and slopes. 

A significant amount of funding is required to fully restore and improve resilience of the road infrastructure on Wisemans Ferry Road.  

We have been working closely with the Australian and NSW Governments through Transport of NSW to secure funding, and have submitted applications as part of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) programs: 

• Essential Public Asset Reconstruction Works (EPAR) to restore the road to its pre-disaster function
• Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Program (RRTRP) which includes betterment funding to make the road more resilient to future natural disasters
   

The safety of our community and drivers in our region is important to Council, which is why Wisemans Ferry Road may be temporarily closed at short notice during heavy rainfall events.

A section of Wisemans Ferry Road (approx. 10km west of Spencer) was severely impacted by landslips and has ongoing instability with a higher risk of further impacts during significant rainfall.  

In accordance with geotechnical expert advice to reduce the risk of further slope instability and to manage public safety risks, processes are in place to temporarily close the road when more than 30mm rain occurs in a 24hr period.  We work closely with a Geotechnical expert to monitor weather forecast and conditions, which inform us of when the road should be closed and reopened.  

Notices and updates are issued as soon as possible (both during and outside of business hours), though our Facebook page, Council’s road closure webpage, directly to Live Traffic NSW, and through local radio and online media, in addition to the digital road signage in the area, and directly to key stakeholders.

We understand that temporary closures significantly impact our local community and wider group of drivers using this road to cross between the regions. This is why the restoration works to this section has been prioritised, with works at this site expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

• View current open/closed status of Wisemans Ferry Road
• Go to our online interactive map to view this site’s remediation work status and more information.  This site is referenced as ‘Wisemans Ferry Rd, Gunderman (CH 40410) - Embankment Stabilisation’