Blue Mountains: Bowens Creek Rd fire trail reconstruction up in the air
It’s the only escape route in and out of two small fire-prone townships if the main road gets blocked yet its fate is up in the air.
The Blue Mountains News
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It’s the only emergency route in and out of Mt Irvine and Mt Wilson for 281 residents if Mt Wilson Road is blocked — like during the Christmas bushfires.
But the fate of the 85-year-old Bowens Creek Rd fire trail continues to remain up in the air.
Blue Mountains Councillor Kevin Schreiber is fearful of what might happen if both the trail and Mt Wilson Rd are blocked in a major fire and helicopters can’t rescue stranded residents.
“A young lady gave a dramatic account of driving down this trail with flames on either side of the car, trying to get to her mother,” Mr Schreiber told The Blue Mountains News. “We’ve got to find another way for our residents to get out.”
Cr Schreiber suggested National Parks and Wildlife Service manage the trail.
The 12-kilometre fire trail between Mt Irvine and Bilpin crosses both Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury local government areas (LGAs) yet councils on either side of it are yet to settle on a starting date for its reconstruction.
A 1930s timber bridge on the trail, jointly owned by the two councils, was already beyond repair when it reportedly got burnt in last month’s fires.
Mt Wilson Rd, which has been formally closed to traffic since around 2004, has been significantly damaged by storm and erosion, according to Hawkesbury Council.
Blue Mountains Council maintains Hawkesbury Council is the one stalling the repair of Bowens Creek Rd.
Hawkesbury Council says it’s the other way around.
Blue Mountains Council is seeking advice from NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Deputy Commissioner Bob Rogers on calling for a roundtable discussion with key people including Hawkesbury Council, to expedite the project and ensure residents are safe in fire, snow, windstorms or other emergencies.
A notice of motion tabled by Cr Kerry Brown last council meeting noted it’s been one year since her council resolved to receive a briefing from Hawkesbury Council on a feasibility study to upgrade Bowens Creek Rd “to fire trail standard”.
The study estimated reconstruction of the fire trail as an emergency access route would cost about $3 million.
Jeff Organ, the infrastructure services director for Hawkesbury Council, said the feasibility study has already been provided to Blue Mountains Council and various emergency response agencies, including the RFS, “for comment and/or support for the use of the route and any specific requirements.”
“Local RFS brigade comments have been received,” Mr Organ said. “The support of all agencies is required in order to effectively support applications for grant funding based on emergency service use.”
The Blue Mountains Council Bushfire Recovery Action Plan, which councillors endorsed on January 28, includes restoring road access to all fire-impacted residents.
From late November the Blue Mountains experienced unprecedented fire activity leading to 18 property losses in Mt Irvine, Mt Wilson, Mt Tomah, Berambing, Bell, Hartley Vale, Mt Victoria, Blackheath and Megalong Valley.
Another four residential buildings were significantly damaged.