Lithgow Council abandons new road plan after $15 million waste, opts to repair Wolgan Valley road

A landslip in November 2022 closed the Wolgan Gap Road, isolating the Wolgan Valley community in New South Wales. Lithgow City Council, Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority spent about $15.34 million over a 20‑month investigation into a new road alignment, despite engineering firm WSP’s earlier advice to keep the road closed.

In August 2025, a report by engineering firm GHD indicated that the original road could be safely repaired, contradicting the earlier risk assessment. Following the report, the council reversed its position, announcing that the original Wolgan Road alignment will be the preferred option. Council spokesperson said, "The original Wolgan Road alignment will be progressed as the preferred road alignment option going forward." Wolgan Valley Association President Andrew Chalk called the prior spending "essentially wasted money" and welcomed the shift to repairing the existing road.

The council now plans to repair and reopen Wolgan Gap Road, ending the four‑year isolation of the valley.