A SIGNIFICANT landslip on the Armidale Rd, approximately six kilometres east of Bellbrook, will require the road to be closed for approximately a week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Kempsey Shire Council engaged specialist geotech engineers to inspect the site this morning after the road was closed around 2.30pm yesterday.
General manager Craig Milburn has been onsite today and confirms the slip is still moving and very dangerous.
"The landslip starts approximately 85 metres above the roadway and has taken out tonnes of rock and debris. There are several trees either balanced or still at risk of slipping and these will require specialist tree removal equipment and professionals to safely remove them from above," Mr Milburn said.
"We are working with specialist engineers to plan the best method for clearing and stabilising the site, but it is currently very dangerous with rocks still falling.
"At this early stage we estimate it will be around a week before we are able to get the road open again."
The road closure impacts around 300 residents of Bellbrook and surrounding areas who are cut off from Kempsey. Council staff have been working with community members and the SES to assess immediate needs and plan for emergency supply drops.
"We can't allow residents to walk through the dangerous site and will be fencing it off totally so that there is no access. We do understand there is a need for some urgent medical supplies and then further supplies will be required in coming days," Mr Milburn said.
Council staff and the SES will coordinate a daily delivery of supplies from Kempsey, which will potentially be by helicopter as early as this afternoon. Any residents who require supplies urgently should arrange to have them delivered to the Recovery Hub on Elbow St, clearly marked. Further details about this daily delivery will be provided tomorrow.
"The residents of Bellbrook are resilient and experienced in dealing with emergencies and weather events and while we know that the local knowledge is being used to access private properties and roads to get to Kempsey, there is more wet weather and storms predicted and it is not safe to drive through flood waters," Mr Milburn said.
