Forestry Corporation has restored public road access to Mount Faulk Road in Olney and Heaton State Forests in the wake of a major landslip that created an impasse into one of the state’s premier recreation areas.

A saturated hillside collapsed during a major weather event in July, 2022, blocking all vehicular access along Mount Faulk Rd from entering the popular Olney and Heaton State Forests, situated between the Central Coast and Lower Hunter.

A major remediation and road building project, totalling close to $500,000, has seen a new road constructed with works now complete.

Forestry Corporation’s Mike Hill, Protection Supervisor Hunter Fire Protection Area, said opening of the new road will come as good news for many forest users and visitors including campers, bushwalkers, mountain bike riders and four-wheel-drivers.

The road project has also restored north-eastern road access to the Watagan Ranges.

“It was a significant landslip that damaged the road during that major La Nina weather event last year,” Mr Hill said.

“When we mapped the landslip, we discovered soil had slid about 180 metres down the hill.

“Given the strategic access importance and popularity of the state forests and the Watagan Ranges for forest management, strategic fire access, essential communication tower functions and tourism and recreation, we made the project a priority to restore access via Mount Faulk Rd.

“The landslip was so significant that essentially the project had to involve a realignment of the road, cutting into the road batter and excavating out a new road,” he said.

Forestry Corporation issued tenders for the works, which were completed by Central Coast firm Buildsmore Pty Ltd and engineering firm Geotrack.

Program Manager – Forest Infrastructure Repair Craig Busby said the road rebuilding project was part of a government support package for rebuilding flood and severe weather impacted road infrastructure throughout the state.

“This project was prioritised due to the importance to the local community,” Mr Busby said.

“The job was done very professionally, with safety to users as a primary consideration and it has been completed on time and under budget, which is great news.

“This allows us to use these savings in other impacted parts of the local area and across the state,” he said.

The new road has also restored access for local recreational partners including the Four Wheel Drive Association of NSW and ACT, Hunter Mountain Bike Association (Awaba Mountain Bike Park) and Newcastle Hang Gliding Club.

Remediation works have also been undertaken on a neighbouring private property that was affected by the landslip.

Media contact: Matt Deans 0429 621 845