Forestry Corporation of NSW is advising Towamba residents that Rodwell Road will be closed from 6.00am to 6.00pm weekdays until further notice.

Rodwell Road is used by the local community as a shortcut to Imlay Road.

The road closure will allow roadside preparations for the coming harvesting operations and the expected busy fire season, said Forestry Corporation Harvesting and Roading Coordinator Tim Gillespie-Jones.

“We are temporarily closing Rodwell Road to ensure the safety of the community,” Mr Gillespie-Jones said.

“We’ll endeavour to be as efficient as possible to minimise the disruption and expect the closure to last four to six weeks.

“During the closure, forestry staff will be harvesting a 15-20m wide corridor along existing roads.

“This happens 12 months ahead of scheduled harvesting operations in order to prepare roads for the large trucks used to transport forest products.”

The preparation work will create a safer environment for all forest users, particularly as the community prepares itself for a challenging fire season.

“Having the forest opened up with better access into the Towamba valley allows us to respond to any reported fires more readily, whilst better protecting the plantation and the Towamba community from wildfire,” Mr Gillespie-Jones said.

For more information, please contact Tim Gillespie-Jones at the Bombala office on (02) 6459 5200.

Media contact: Rod Campbell 0428058549