THE options for the Crow Mountain Rd through the derelict Woodsreef Mine were presented to the Barraba community on Thursday night.
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The Woodsreef Taskforce carried out a scoping study on an alternative route around the former asbestos mine, taking into account the environmental, social and financial impacts, following recommendations from the NSW Ombudsman to close it.
The options for the road are to leave it as it is, through the mine site, or develop one of three alternative routes.
The community has four weeks to make a submission on the alternative routes, which are on public exhibition.
Each of the three routes links the Bundarra–Barraba Rd to the Crow Mountain–Woodsreef Rd, which connects to Manilla Rd south of Barraba.
“Some people want the mine road kept open, but it’s just not safe,” meeting chairman KevinAnderson said.
“All the evidence says the road has to be closed.”
The mine road closure is part of the former asbestos mine’s major rehabilitation project.
Community advisory group member Danny Ballard said the scoping study was only very basic and needed more detail.
“There was very little detail,” Mr Ballard said.
“Before any work, other studies would have to be done.
“There would need to be geological studies of the route to see if there’s any naturally occurring asbestos on those routes.”
Mr Ballard said the project’s cost needed to be more accurate.
He said the cheapest quote was $3.3 million and that wasn’t allowing for a higher level bridge, only a small bridge, nor for further costs if more asbestos was found.