THERE is no solution in sight to the problems council will face if it attempts to reopen the historic Bridle Track to traffic.
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The bush road between Duramana and Hill End has been closed since a rockslide at Monaghan’s Bluff in July 2010.
In a report to council, engineering director Doug Patterson noted that two geotechnical investigations had already been carried out at the site, paying particular attention to its stability in relation to further rockslips and landslides.
He said council had also investigated rectification measures including stabilising embankments, bridging the affected area and possible alternate routes, but none were economically viable.
More than $1.5 million has been spent on the track since the amalgamation of the former Evans Shire and Bathurst City Council in 2004.
At the same time, $3.6 million has been spent upgrading the Hill End Road (Turondale to Hill End) and another $1.2 million on the Hill End road (Sofala to Turondale).
At last week’s council meeting, Mr Patterson stressed that any work would be impractical on this site because the road is unstable for its entire length.
“If we start carting heavy construction materials along the road it has the potential to collapse,” he said.
“It’s not as simple as doing some studies and saying ‘let’s resolve these issues’.
“You’ve got to understand it won’t necessarily be resolved once we do the studies.”
Mr Patterson was responding to Cr Ross Thompson, who said he accepted it was a difficult situation, however, the road was historically important.
“I’d like to see it put forward into the management plan,” he said. “We really must put press-ure on the state government.”
Cr Tracey Carpenter added the road was mentioned as one of the region’s key tourism attractions, but said she was concerned that many other sections of the road were just as likely to slide.
“Dry stone wall culverts are liable to collapse under modern use. We could fix one only to see others collapse,” she said.
Cr Monica Morse agreed the issue was very complicated.
“It is one of our iconic roads,” she said.
“It will always be a heritage road, but probably won’t ever take the traffic a modern road would.
“I appreciate the fact that engineers have looked at the heritage of the road.
“The more consultation we have the better – the heritage people, the minister for Tourism, they all should be consulted.”
Mr Patterson said further investigation of the site would cost around $53,600 and any design would depend on the findings of the investigation.
“As council would be aware, it is important to keep in mind the risks associated with the road at other locations along this section of the bluff,” Mr Patterson said.
He added that staff were currently investigating/follow-ing up on an alternate route via Box Ridge Road and Stewarts Access Road to the Hill End side of the bluff.