SENATOR THE HON JENNY MCALLISTER
MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
MINISTER FOR CITIES
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES

DR GORDON REID
MEMBER FOR ROBERTSON

THE HON PAUL SCULLY MP
MINISTER FOR PLANNING AND PUBLIC SPACES

THE HON JENNY AITCHISON MP
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND ROADS

THE HON DAVID HARRIS MP
MINISTER FOR THE CENTRAL COAST

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE - ROAD TO RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE: WISEMANS FERRY ROAD REMEDIATION WORK FORGING AHEAD

Repairs and betterment works are now underway for more than 40 landslip sites on Wisemans Ferry Road in Spencer and Gunderman on the Central Coast, thanks to $28.3 million from Albanese and Minns Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Wisemans Ferry Road experienced widespread damage including embankments with landslides and rockfalls at multiple locations, after major flooding and storms in 2022.

The road will be restored to its pre-disaster function and become more resilient to future natural disasters, as part of Essential Public Asset Reconstruction and Regional Roads Transport Recovery Package initiatives.

These initiatives help local councils in NSW rebuild road and transport infrastructure projects in disaster-impacted communities.

Alongside current road pavement rehabilitation, over the coming months Wisemans Ferry Road will see works across four interconnected segments to rectify several critical landslide and embankment erosion issues.

Completion of the Wisemans Ferry Road project is anticipated in June 2026, weather depending.

Photos of work here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bjewn0qr2ynz05kpnwfg7/AO8KVqR1zxv1x-m7KX8RM_w?rlkey=1m0qk25qgnod6k511lwshytfn&st=zhgottxf&dl=0

Quotes attributed to Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Jenny McAllister:

“The Albanese and Minns Governments are committed to working with Central Coast Council to build a stronger and more reliable road network that keeps local communities connected and freight operators moving.

“Restoring and improving vital infrastructure such as Wisemans Ferry Road helps local communities respond and bounce back more quickly to any future natural disasters.”

Quotes attributed to the Member for Robertson, Dr. Gordon Reid:

“I welcome the collaboration between the Federal and State Labor Governments to start these much-needed rehabilitation works along Wisemans Ferry Road.

“I know through conversations with my community that safety along Wisemans Ferry Road is a top priority, being one of the primary roads in and out of the area.

“As an emergency doctor, it is vitally important that frontline services can access these communities easily and safely.”

Quotes attributed to NSW Minister for Planning, Paul Scully:

“We have seen Wisemans Ferry Road severely impacted by weather events in recent years so this investment in upgrading more than 40 landslip sites is important.

“When repair works are undertaken in disaster prone areas, we want to make sure they make the area more resilient for the future.

“These works on Wisemans Ferry Road are long overdue for the community to return to their normal travel routes around the area.”

Quotes attributed to NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison:

“We know Wisemans Ferry Road is vulnerable to severe weather events, and this funding will help Central Coast Council to both carry out necessary repairs and to ensure the local road network is more capable of withstanding future natural disasters.

"This funding will provide a boost to Council, to improve the local roads that people use every day to travel to work, see their families and get to medical appointments.

“Working together, we can help communities remain connected or re-connect faster following a severe weather event.”

Quotes attributed to NSW Minister for the Central Coast David Harris:

“These extensive rehabilitation works are a huge win for residents, visitors and freight operators who rely on Wisemans Ferry Road.

“These works will improve safety significantly while also ensuring the region can bounce back quicker.

“I’m proud to be part of a government providing funding which will improve the daily lives of regional communities.”

Quotes attributed to Gosford MP Liesl Tesch:

“Wisemans Ferry Road has been significantly impacted by severe weather events and the local community are very happy to see work progressing to not only restore the road, but ensure it’s improved for the long-term benefit of all locals and visitors.

“The Central Coast deserves to have infrastructure that can recover more quickly from these types of disasters, allowing life to get back to normal more quickly.

“Simply repairing the damage without addressing the underlying problems would eventually be more costly for all concerned.”

Quotes attributed to Central Coast Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff:

“The long-awaited works have been much anticipated by the community after many natural disasters and storm events impacted local roads and the day-to-day life of locals, as well as visitors to the area.

“Since the time that emergency works were undertaken to reinstate road access and ensure safe use of the road, Council has continued to work on delivering solutions to get the road back to working order and to better withstand future natural disasters.

“We are excited to have successfully secured funding from the Australian and NSW Governments and for the remediation works on Wisemans Ferry Road to now be underway.

“This is a very welcome milestone for the community and the tourism industry, and we thank the Australian and NSW Governments for their funding support.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Minister McAllister’s office: Isabella Wang 0403 114 350

Minister Scully’s office: Kate Bryant 0455 609 661

Minister Aitchison’s office: Wendy Fitzgibbon 0408 427 540