Part of the walkway was closed after a wet winter in 2016 and a series of subsequent floods in the Macquarie led to a section of the riverbank collapsing.

Council awarded the contract for the repairs last November, but a spokesperson said in March that approvals were still to be received.

“We have been waiting for the necessary approvals from government agencies including NSW Fisheries and Crown Lands to be granted," the council spokesperson said at the time.

“These approvals are required before the construction of the gabion wall can take place.”

The gabion retaining wall – made up of a number of wire baskets filled with stones and stacked together – is designed to restore the bank’s integrity and guard against further damage.

Council general manager David Sherley said last week that the cold months were not the best time to work on the walkway.

“The walkway is a popular attraction and we understand the community's desire to have it reopened to the public as soon as possible,” he said.

“Given the complex nature and scale of this project, council needs to ensure the appropriate plans are in place to firstly make the area safe, and secondly get it right.

“The cooler months are not the ideal time to commence works near the river as the risk of the water levels rising has traditionally been high. 

“Council is currently working with the contractor to finalise the walkway and establish a timeline of scheduled works.”

Though the Bathurst district was soaked last winter, when the low level George Street bridge went under a number of times, the district has had an extremely dry June and July this year, recording less than 10 millimetres in total.

Council has previously had trouble with vandalism at the closed section of the walkway. Council said earlier this year that the fencing and the chains securing the fencing at the closed section had been repeatedly damaged, including the barriers being thrown into the river.