Wakehurst Parkway: Council vote means work to begin soon to reduce flooding of notorious road

It’s been a frustrating journey for motorists who use Wakehurst Parkway, but the council has voted to begin work to reduce floods on the notorious road.

Work is finally set to begin to reduce flooding on the notorious Wakehurst Parkway after a vote by Northern Beaches Council on Tuesday night.,

But it could be 18 months before motorists, who use the stretch of road between Oxford Falls and North Narrabeen, see the first phase of the flood mitigation project completed.

And the Parkway could still be closed by flooding an average once every two years, despite the work to improve drainage under the road.

Flooding along Wakehurst Parkway at the entrance to the Sydney Academy of Sport at Narrabeen. Picture: News Corp

The council heard that work at Oxford Falls was the first priority, followed by two other floodprone areas — The Bends, and the Sydney Academy of Sport.

The Parkway is owned by the NSW Government, but the land around it, including the creeks and wetlands, is managed by the council.

In February 2021, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) officially offered $13.1 million to the council, if it voted to proceed with work to improve water flows under the road with new culverts and drains, creek realignments, sediment removal and new levees.

Vehicles on the flooded Wakehurst Parkway. Picture: News Corp

On Tuesday the council voted, after putting the plans out for public comment, to begin detailed design and environmental assessments for reducing flooding at Oxford Falls.

It also decided to look at options at The Bends to work out if the environmental impact of those could be reduced

Mayor Michael Regan said because Wakehurst Parkway was surrounded by areas of cultural and environmental significance, the council sought community input last year on proposed flood mitigation measures.

On Tuesday night Mr Regan said Wakehurst Parkway was “not a priority” for TfNSW.

“This is a state road. The only way to permanently stop this from flooding is to raise the road and that’s been made clear.

It is hoped that flood mitigation works will reduce the number of tiimes Wakehurst Parkway is closed due to flooding. Photo Jeremy Piper

“It’s also a significant cost to the taxpayer.

“What is being proposed now is to get on with the works, and the design works, that we know can have little environmental damage, and fix some issues.

“It doesn’t prevent it from flooding.”

Liberal councillor Rory Amon said work should being immediately.

“Otherwise it’s not going to be until 2024, and that’s going to be several flooding events down the track later with people with no access to that road corridor.”

Greens councillor Kristyn Glanville said the work could end up being a waste of taxpayers’ money on what she described as a “non-solution”.

Two cars trapped by floodwaters on Wakehurst Parkway back in March, 2003. Picture: John Grainger.

“We’ll still have a road to (Northern Beaches Hospital) that floods every two years.”

Independent councillor Vincent De Luca said while he acknowledged the road was state-owned, frustration with delays in fixing it was building in the community.

“They are desperate for something to be done to alleviate the situation.

“I think we’ve got to work with what we’ve got, sadly.”

Liberal Federal MP for Mackellar Jason Falinski has repeatedly said the road needed more than just flood mitigation work and repeatedly called for state authorities to widen the Parkway to four lanes.

“I have consulted with a lot of people in the community and their view accords with mine, this (vote by the council) is better late than never.” the MP said on Wednesday.

“But once is too many times for a community to be cut off.

Federal Liberal MP for Mackellar, Jason Falinski, is still pushing for the State Government to widen Wakehurst Parkway to four lanes. Picture: Supplied

Mr Falinski said the most effective way to mitigate potential flooding was to widen Wakehurst Parkway to “make one of Australia’s most dangerous roads safer”.

Serious flooding in February, 2020, prompted Mr Falinski, to write to then NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance, telling him that the federal government had money to pay for a study into the proposed widening of the Parkway.

Once a feasibility study, or business case was completed, the NSW Government could seek more Commonwealth money to pay for the upgrade, Mr Falinski said.