Assessment will determine stabalisation works

Gosford Council has undertaken a geotechnical assessment of the area above Phegan's Bay Rd where a section of rockface collapsed onto the roadway on July 8.

Council's manager of engineering services Mr John Cragg said council expected to receive the findings of the assessment any day.

He said consultants from Jeffery and Katauskas Pty Ltd who carried out geotechnical studies on Woy Woy Rd and the Old Pacific Hwy had undertaken the assessment at Phegan's Bay.

"The geotechnical consultants carried out an initial assessment of the site above Phegan's Bay Rd following the collapse of rockface," Mr Cragg said.

"The findings from this report indicated the area was within acceptable risk to allow the road to remain open.

"We are now waiting on the findings of the second assessment to determine what stabilisation works need to take place to address the long term safety of the site.

"This may include rock bolting, underpinning and concrete support works."

Mr Cragg said council workers would be closing Phegan's Bay Rd on August 2 to remove several trees from the site which had been destabilised as a result of the rockfall.

"We will be shutting down all access of Phegan's Bay Rd between 9am and 11am," Mr Cragg said.

"We have chosen to carry out these works on a Sunday morning to ensure minimal disruption to local residents and visitors to the area.

"All emergency services will be notified as will residents in the area by way of a letterbox drop."

Mr Cragg said the rockfall above Phegan's Bay Rd was a natural occurring process caused by cracking in the rock surface.

Clare Graham, 22 Jul 2009 Interviewee: John Cragg, Gosford Council