Summary of Public Works / RMS Reports regarding Emergency Access to
Upper Coopers Creek
Background
The Upper Coopers Creek Road landslip occurred about 1.3km south of Upper
Coopers Creek Public School. A preliminary geotechnical inspection by Council
highlighted there is an immediate risk of catastrophic collapse in keeping the road
open due to the instability of the 100 metre length of road.
Actions
 a further geotechnical inspection and report has been carried out. It has been
recommended by geotechnical engineers that the road in the area of the land slip
be closed to all traffic including pedestrian traffic

there is a requirement to provide emergency access to the community. This
access is for items such as medical emergencies, Rural Fire Service, the
restoration of power services and the like

a desk top study and discussions with RFS have taken place and two options for
emergency access were identified

an inspection of the two options was undertaken by RFS and NSW Public Works
13 February 2013. The two options are discussed below

a further inspection was undertaken with RFS, NSW Public Works, NSW Police
and Byron Shire Council representatives on 14 February 2013 to investigate the
Bailey Bridge crossing. This option was considered not to be feasible due to
length of crossing required
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Current Position
Two options have been identified. Discussion of the options is set out below.
She Oak Road Option
Description of Route
 development of this route would require approximately 3.1km of improvements
 part of the route follows an old overgrown timber track. This old timber track is
approximately 1.5km long and would need boxing out and a gravel pavement
constructed. There is a very steep (approx 20 degree slope) section.
 approximately another 400m of gravel road would then need to be constructed to
join up to an existing dual track concrete driveway, which joins up to Tickles Road.
 there is a concrete causeway across Coopers Creek which had about 200mm of
water across it at the time of inspection.
Issues with the She Oak Road Option
 400m of very steep track (approximately 20 degree slope) which may not be
passable in extended wet weather even after it is gravelled
 the upgraded track would only be suitable for emergency vehicles and not be
suitable for public access
 the causeway crossing across Coopers Creek at Tickles Road can be flooded for
up to a week and would need a flying fox across it for emergency retrievals.
 there may be legal issues if someone using the track is injured as the track will not
be constructed to rural roads standard
 there may also be legal issues for the property owners whose land the track
traverses if someone using the track is injured
 there maybe legal issues associated with planning approvals and environmental
concerns
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Englishes Road Option
Description of Route
 this route involves approximately 2.0 km of improvements
 at the start of this option there is a timer bridge that needs to be crossed. At the
time of inspection the water level was about 1m below the bridge. The bridge
does go under in major rainfall events.
 there is 300m of track either side of the bridge that needs re-gravelling.
 there is then a 400 length of old bitumen road that needs re-bitumening.
 following this, the track then joins up with a poorly maintained track (approx 500m)
through a privately owned property
 there is then a 400m section of grassed paddock through another privately owner
property to a 200m steep section of track which needs re-gravelling
 this 200m track then travels on to join up to an existing dual track concrete
driveway, which in turn joins up to Tickles Road
 there is a concrete causeway across Coopers Creek which had about 200mm of
water across it at the time of inspection
Issues with Englishes Road Option
 200m of steep track (approx 10 -15 degree slope) which should be passable in
extended wet weather if it is gravelled
 the timber bridge across Coopers Creek would need a structural assessment to
see if it suitable for trucks carrying gravel to pass
 the upgraded track would only be suitable for emergency vehicles and not be
suitable for public access
 the causeway crossing across Coopers Creek at Tickles Road can be flooded for
up to a week and would need a flying fox across it for emergency retrievals
 the timber bridge across Coopers Creek at Englishes Road can also be flooded
 there could be legal issues if someone using the track is injured as the track will
not be constructed to rural roads standard
 there could also be legal issues for the property owners whose land the track
traverses if someone using the track is injured
 there maybe legal issues associated with planning approvals and environmental
concerns
Recommendation
That Englishes Road option be progressed to provide emergency access to Upper
Coopers Creek, subject to:
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 satisfactory advice be sought from general Legal Counsel through the SEOC on
the matters pertaining to:a) ability to construct access across private property
b) any liabilities that may arise due to standard of construction, the
crossing of private property
c) any requirements under the EP&A Act or other relevant Acts both
State and Commonwealth
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Inspection 21 February 2013
On 21/02/13 two RMS engineers, two NSW Public Works engineers and a member
of NSW Police looked at several options for alternate 2WD access to the isolated
Upper Coopers Creek community.
1.
Temporary Bridging of the Slip.
Issues were:





2.
a single span bailey bridge would not be suitable due to the length of the slip
multiple spans meant intermediate supports – this was seen as not feasible
there is a lack of area to be able to carry out construction works
was heavily dependent on the outcomes of the Coffey geotechnical investigations
considered expensive
Bridge Along the Power Easement 400 Metres North of the Slip
 the height of approximately 30 metres above the creek bed and 100 metres
spanmakes it not feasible for a bailey bridge
 bridge approaches are on steep, potentially unstable slopes

3.
Road from Englishes Bridge linking up with ‘Banana Road’ and then to
Tickles Road
 length is approximately 2.5 km
 there is a formation below a private property that goes towards the ‘Banana
Road’, but it was not possible on the day to link the two. It is suggested that
further investigations are carried out with a GPS so the ‘missing link’ can be
identified
 the Banana Road is formed from Tickles Road to private property near the
Englishes Road property. One large pipe crossing of a ravine would be required,
along with several smaller one or two pipe crossings
 as there is a formation along both identified sections, there would be minimal
clearing
 clearing would be required for the ‘missing link’, along with environmental
approvals
 property owner consent would be required
4.
Permanent Repair of Slip Instead of Temporary Access
the time to carry out the repair is extensive
alternate access would be required during construction
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Englishes Road to Tickles Road
Description of Route
 this route involves approximately 2.5 km of improvements
 most of the route passes through areas that have already been cleared as tracks
previously
 weed regrowth has occurred, which can be easily cleared by machine
 there is a ‘missing link’ that will require some clearing and forming, including felling
some trees
 along most of the route the road can be two way traffic
 at the start of this route there is a timber bridge on Englishes Road
 the bridge does go under in major rainfall events
 it will have to be agreed that the access will not be available when the bridge goes
under
 there is 300m of track either side of the bridge that needs re-gravelling
 there is then a 400 length of old bitumen road that needs re-bitumening
 this road is relatively steep but it is currently used by 2WD vehicles
 close to the top of this sealed section a new path would need to be cleared to take
the route below private property
 this is necessary as it is not feasible to have a public access through the private
property due to the close proximity of the track to dwellings situated there
 there is a formed track that runs below this private property for approximately 800
metres
 this track is narrow in sections, has varying grades and its formation in places
holds water behind it
 it appears these water bodies may be used for irrigation water storage
 the formation along the top of these embankments is narrow and the road may
have to be one lane at these location
 the concrete causeway across Coopers Creek does go under during intense
rainfall and had a significant amount of flow over it at the time of inspection
 the RMS engineers believe a bailey bridge could make this passable more often
during heavy rain
 the height of this would be dependent on the water levels at the Englishes Road
bridge
 there is no point in having this crossing higher than the Englishes Road bridge
Recommendation
It is recommended that:
 the Englishes Road to Tickles Road on the lower side of the private property
option be progressed to provide 2WD public access to Upper Coopers Creek
 advice be sought from general Legal Counsel through the MPES on the matters
pertaining to:
a) ability to construct access across private property
b) any liabilities that may arise due to standard of construction, the
crossing of private property
c) any requirements under the EP&A Act or other relevant Acts both
State and Commonwealth
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 there could be legal issues if someone using the track is injured as the track will
not be constructed to rural roads standard
 there could also be legal issues for the property owners whose land the track
traverses if someone using the track is injured
 there maybe legal issues associated with planning approvals and environmental
approvals and concerns
 these issues are outside the engineering scope and must be dealt with at a high
level in the EM hierarchy
 it is understood works to provide this access to Upper Cooper Creek will not be
covered by NDRRA funding and does not come under the Disaster Assistance
Guidelines
 Council will need to resolve this with MPES
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