YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD COMPUTER DOWN …

Technology has taken over and is holding the northern suburbs to ransom now that the RTA has installed electronic barriers and solar powered computers and very diligent rain gauges (!) to protect us from falling rocks and landslides. Being proactive about what might happen is now proving more of a nuisance than being reacting “after” the rocks had fallen.

Residents of the northern suburbs found themselves locked out when the barriers came down on Friday afternoon (21 Feb) on the road between Coalcliff and Clifton. It appears that when more than 35mm of rain falls, the roadway will automatically be closed as a precaution. But nobody told the businesses and residents that that is what they could expect.

The RTA has said that the procedure was discussed with the community when the extensive work was carried out on the roadway and cliff face last July, but most residents and business were shocked when they found the road closed - more so because of the weekend of much-needed rain. It meant that the tourist route was severely disadvantaged and businesses lost out.

Many have questioned the extent of the work that was carried out to supposedly prevent falling rocks - with all the baskets and measures to catch falling rocks, one would assume that the likelihood of the road being closed would be reduced. There were lots of phone calls to the RTA and to local Members of Parliament - let’s hope there’s some satisfaction for the businesses along the route.