Negotiations stall over future of Congo Rd North as Mayor seeks feedback

More than six months after it was closed, Congo Rd North remains cut off to traffic. Now Eurobodalla Mayor Matthew Hatcher is calling on residents to help break the gridlock.

Eurobodalla Mayor Matthew Hatcher has urged residents of the isolated South Coast town of Congo to engage with policymakers to resolve a six-month transport crisis, as a breakthrough in negotiations remains elusive.

In his letter to residents, Mr Hatcher acknowledged that for some people in the town of little more than 200, the issue of North Congo Rd was “difficult and divisive”, and that there was no simple solution.

“We want to work through possible solutions with Congo residents in good faith,” he said.

“Our aim is to establish a set of viable options developed with the community and, necessarily, with the landowner, that council can then evaluate, and finally vote on.”

Currently, two roads connect the town of Congo to the outside world: one sealed road to the south of the town that connects to the Princes Hwy, and a second northbound road that is largely unsealed, with a section of the road running through private property.

For more than 30 years, landowner Roy Shephard has allowed the public to use the road to gain access to the town.

But, in November 2021 that changed when the northbound road was closed by the council after concerns were raised by the landowner that a number of large, old Bangalay trees on the roadside were creating a liability risk.

Eurobodalla Mayor Matthew Hatcher has urged residents of the isolated south coast town of Congo to engage with policymakers to resolve a six-month transport crisis that has left the northbound road closed. Picture: Eurobodalla Shire Council

Council then moved to have the trees removed, triggering a months-long protest by activists against the potential clearing as well as a forensic investigation by council - as well as outsourced parties - to uncover any history of a public route in the area.

At its ordinary session on May 10, the Eurobodalla Shire Council voted to have the issues postponed for an additional three months for consultation. For Mr Hatcher, and many of the new councillors that have taken the reigns since January, the issue is one they have inherited.

“We are a new council dealing with a legacy issue and we will need to make a decision about the future of the road,” Mr Hatcher said, acknowledging that some residents were resolved to keep the road closed, suggesting the village is improved without extra through-traffic.

“We first want to hear from the community on possible solutions you believe council hasn’t looked at already.”

According to council documents the body has not been able to establish evidence - including through research by a specialist firm - to confirm the existence of a public road, through prior use of the physical Congo Rd North.

“This means the land over the physical road is private land,” the documents state.

“The landowner has proactively collaborated with emergency services and made arrangements for access during bushfires and other emergency events, should that be required.”

Eurobodalla Mayor Matthew Hatcher attending a ceremony to launch the new Bay Pavilions. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

The documents state that Mr Shephard has indicated a willingness to continue to work with the council toward providing a new road through the private land, subject to that new road being in a mutually agreed location.

“The landowner is opposed to creating a public road reserve over the existing physical road,” the documents state.

“Council has previously agreed with the landowner that any new road reserve would not be over the existing physical road.

“The landowner’s strong preference was for any new road reserve to be across the very northern edge of the private property.”

Before its deferral, the council was presented with two options for its motion, according to council documents.

Option One: “Take no further action regarding the potential establishment of a public road through Lot 197 DP752151 (Congo North) or any alternative route, noting that the village of Congo is serviced via Congo Road South and Bingie Road which is a sealed, all weather road.”

Option Two: “Council allocate up to $50,000 to engage a suitably qualified valuer to undertake an assessment of the value of the resources that would be quarantined as a result of the construction of a public road through Lot 197 DP752151 (Congo North).”

For Mr Hatcher, there are many pieces to the process still in limbo.

He said councillors believed this was a good chance for them to be different from past regimes, and to work with the community.

“We are doing things differently and we want to hear from you,” he said.

Submissions can be made to the council via the mayoral email.