Fernleigh Track bushfire damage keeps Redhead–Whitebridge section closed for tree removal

newy.com.au – The Fernleigh Track between Redhead and Whitebridge will remain closed while Lake Macquarie City Council removes fire-damaged trees left unstable by a weekend bushfire.

Council says the closure is necessary because a number of badly burnt trees are at risk of collapsing onto the popular shared path without warning, posing a serious danger to riders and walkers. The affected section runs through bushland that was scorched as fire moved from Redhead towards Dudley over the weekend.

A Council crew including an arborist and asset specialists inspected the track on Monday 8 December. Manager City Works Matthew Brogan said more than a dozen trees, including large eucalypts, had been identified as high risk.

“The initial fire burns the outside of the tree, but some might keep smouldering for quite a while even after the flames have been extinguished,” Mr Brogan said.

“That can weaken it to the point where it can fall at any given moment. That’s going to mean several tonnes of timber potentially falling across the track very suddenly.”

The inspection found several trees that had already toppled next to the path, including what Mr Brogan described as one huge eucalypt. Despite that, he said the track surface, fencing and seating along the route had escaped serious damage.

“Fortunately, the track itself, fencing alongside the path and seating along the route were all saved from serious damage,” he said.

Mr Brogan thanked NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews for their efforts in containing the blaze.

“It’s thanks to them that there isn’t more destruction along the track,” he said.

Council is urging people to stay off the Redhead-Whitebridge section until the works are complete, after staff reported people ignoring warning signs and tape even while aircraft were still working nearby.

“Even while our inspection crew was out there with helicopters still water-bombing nearby, we had a large number of people ducking under the closure tape to use the track,” Mr Brogan said.

“We just need to impress upon people the danger of doing that. We know how popular the Fernleigh Track is and we’re doing everything we can to get it reopened as soon as possible, but for your own safety, please take heed of the closure.”

Council will now work with contractors over coming days to safely remove the at-risk trees and says updates on reopening the track will be provided as soon as they are available.