The Turnbull Government will provide $100,000 to investigate and design an emergency access escape route from the Upper Blue Mountains and areas of the Hawkesbury.
Senator Marise Payne said Hawkesbury City Council will receive funding to undertake the investigation, which was a 2016 election commitment.
The project will centre on a 4WD emergency access route including bridge access along Mt Irvine Road and Bowens Creek Road which has been closed for many years and potentially makes residents and tourists vulnerable in emergency situations. The investigation will include engineering and technical studies and plans and costings for future works.
“The Coalition is providing funding for the first stage of the project which is an investigation into an escape route for emergency vehicles in the Upper Blue Mountains during natural disasters and other emergency situations,” said Senator Payne.
But Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said the so-called “delivery” of funding for the feasibility study is no longer the main issue.
“I was advised that the agreement between Hawkesbury Council and the federal government was executed in January, so the community was aware the funding was available some three months ago,” she said.
“What is of concern now is the detail about what the study will actually consider. I am very concerned to hear Senator Payne speak of ‘escape routes’ for emergency vehicles, when actually it is about giving emergency vehicles access into the community.
“This community has struggled over many years to convince Hawkesbury Council to come on board with this study, while Blue Mountains Council has been supportive of them.
“It was very pleasing after the election of the new Hawkesbury Council to see a shift in policy led by mayor Mary Lyons-Bucket.
“As lead agency now, Hawkesbury Council has responsibility to determine the scope of the study and I would strongly recommend the close involvement of the Mt Wilson/Mt Irvine RFS representatives in doing this.
“This community has driven the project, in spite of it sitting across two council areas, two state seats and one federal seat. They are an articulate, self-sufficient community, and to leave them out of the process would be to invite failure, and the integrity of the feasibility study would be in question.”
Member of the Mt Wilson/Mt Irvine Rural Fire Brigade Executive, Elizabeth Montano, said the brigade regularly helps NSW Police Rescue in search and rescue operations for lost and injured bushwalkers and canyoners.
“The brigade has a long history of providing emergency services support in a remote and geographically challenging environment,” said Ms Montano.
“The brigade has been deeply concerned about the loss of direct emergency vehicle access between Mt Wilson/Mt Irvine and Bells Line of Rd at Bilpin, which had been closed due to its poor condition, particularly on the Hawkesbury side. This access route provided an essential piece of emergency services infrastructure between the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury.
“The brigade is looking to the Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) and Hawkesbury Council to work together strategically to protect both communities,” she sid.
“The current feasibility study to determine how to restore the route is a good step forward and, as a major stakeholder on behalf of our community, the brigade looks forward to working closely with the two councils to get this route restored.”
