Mt Ettalong Rd stable, says council

Mt Ettalong Rd is stable, but a full geotechnical report will be made to Gosford Council after concerns were raised about the deterioration of a section of the road.

Council's manager of engineering services Mr John Cragg said council had been monitoring the road formation stability of Mt Ettalong Rd near the hairpin bend at the eastern end of Patonga Dr as part of regular inspections.

Mr Cragg said geotechnical engineers had assessed the area and would inform council if any ongoing major works were needed in the area.

He said a full report was expected to be made to council in a fortnight.

According to Mr Cragg, minor works would take place over the coming week including the sealing of cracked roadway to stop water penetrating over the roadway and down the embankment.

Pearl Beach resident Ms Kay Williams said she informed council of the weakening embankment more than two weeks ago after becoming concerned about changes to the surface area below the roadway.

Ms Williams travels along Mt Ettalong Rd at least two times a day and said she was always cautious of any changes to the area, especially after periods of increased rainfall.

Ms Williams said she became increasingly concerned with the area in anticipation of increased traffic flow to the road as part of Pearl Beach Anniversary celebrations over the weekend of October 10 to 11.

She said she had been in contact with council on October 9, in regard to the section of Mt Ettalong Rd and was advised by council staff that the area was stable and would be assessed by geotechnical engineers on October 12.

"I asked several people in Pearl Beach, including engineers, to keep an eye on the area of slippage.

"A tree was dislodged down the steep slope as well as large rocks, and material was lost in the slip up to the edge of the road surface (on the road side of the safety railing)," Ms Williams said.

"I remained concerned over the weekend, given the ongoing soaking rains that further subsidence could occur at any time, especially as large vehicles swing out onto the edge to make the right-hand bend turn.

"However, I am disappointed that no warnings or accident tape were erected to alert motorists, especially as the damage was on the road surface itself and the area is not well lit at night and hard to see in driving rain."

However, Ms Williams said she surrendered her concerns and accepted council's reassurance that the area would remain stable over the busy weekend period.

According to a memo issued by Mr Cragg, Ms Williams contacted council with her concerns after she received photographs of the area from Umina activist Mr Edward James.

"Mr James has indicated he has identified locations where the road pavement appears to be 'almost mud' and identifies white paint on the adjacent guardrail," Mr Cragg stated.

"These marked locations are sites where approximately 10 days ago council's geotechnical consultant arranged for auger sampling of the pavement and supporting formation as part of field testing of the road formation associated with the current stage of road stability improvements to Mt Ettalong Rd.

"At the location where the auger entered the pavement there is a localised area of disturbance which is still to be restored, which may appear to be mud.

"The photographs, supplied by Mr James, illustrate areas of the batter supporting the road where there are isolated boulders and evidence of some localised slippage of material.

"This situation was present when the site was viewed by the geotechnical consultant and determined that there was no immediate risk.

"Discussion between myself and the geotechnical consultant today has confirmed that the inspection undertaken of the section of road formation in question approximately 10 days ago did not identify any issue of instability requiring immediate attention."

Mr Cragg stated the geotechnical consultant agreed to re-visit the site October 12, and review "all aspects of stability" at the site.

He said council's acting maintenance manager had inspected the site late on October 9, in the presence of a senior overseer and reported that there were no apparent signs of recent movement of either the "overall formation" or further "localised loss of material down the slope".

Mr Cragg stated that, based on the advice given, it was not considered necessary to take any "immediate action" in respect of the road formation of Mt Ettalong Rd and additional road traffic to the area over the Pearl Beach anniversary weekend imposed no significant loading upon the road formation.

Clare Graham, 15 Oct 2009 Interviewee: John Cragg, Gosford Council Email, 9 Oct 2009 Kay Williams, Pearl Beach Memo, 9 Oct 2009 John Cragg, Gosford Council