Bayside Council staff have been praised for helping restore road access to one of Australia's best-known tourist attractions following the recent bushfires.
Bayside Council sent a team to the Upper Lachlan Shire in the Southern Highlands earlier this month to lend a hand with the recovery process and ensure the road to the Wombeyan Caves, closed since the bushfires late last year, can open as soon as possible.
"The Mayor of Upper Lachlan, John Stafford reached out to council and we didn't hesitate to say yes," Bayside Mayor Joe Awada said.
"The bush fires and floods have abated but there is still a lot to be done to help communities get back on their feet.
"We are providing expertise, labour and equipment to assist with the assessment and if necessary the removal of any trees that cannot be saved," Mayor Awada said.
Bayside Council is working closely with Upper Lachlan Shire to coordinate this recovery project over a two week period with the aim of bringing tourism back to this state significant reserve.
Bayside Council Officers met with Upper Lachlan Shire (ULS) Council on Monday, March 2.
They are assisting with the overall hazards associated with the road closure to the Wombeyan Caves since the bushfires went through the area late last year.
Bayside staff are now reviewing over 1,000 trees and it is anticipated that up to 300 trees may need to be felled to minimise the risk and to allow the road to be open for remedial repair works.
The Upper Lachlan Shire Council has been full of praise for Bayside Council.
"Reopening the road proved no small task. Upper Lachlan Shire Council crews have been spread thin on the ground, working through the long list of roads damaged by the floods," the council said in a statement on its website..
"Enter Bayside Council. Wanting to do something to help a rural area that had been impacted by the fire, when contacted Bayside Council jumped at the chance to offer assistance to Upper Lachlan Shire Council."
Over the last few weeks, a team from Bayside, including two arborists, other crew members and their equipment, have assisted ULSC crews in clearing and making safe Wombeyan Caves Road.
Trees adjacent to the road have been tested for safety, debris has been removed and dirt sections of the road have been graded.
"It's been a mammoth task, and we are very grateful to Bayside for their generosity and assistance," said Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Scott Parsons.
"They helped remove over 200 trees and the road is now almost ready to reopen."
Mr Parsons said there is still work to be done with subsidence and slope stability but some of this work fell under the ongoing maintenance of the road.
The Wombeyan Caves Park itself is still a while off being opened.
"From speaking with the staff there, it's probably a couple of months or more before it is in good enough shape to be reopened," Mr Parsons said.
"No buildings were damaged but the roads are worse for wear from the flooding as are the park areas, and they have to restore power to the caves."
"Park Supervisor Dave Smith said they only have floods here once every 30 years, and they've virtually never had a fire this close, so it's a lot to recover from. It won't have any traffic from the Highlands end for a long time after it reopens so hopefully it will be well supported when it reopens."
There's a long road ahead, but the process of recovery has begun around Wombeyan Caves.
