TOURISTS have been warned to proceed with extreme caution when travelling along parts of the Barrington Tops Forest Drive with parts of the road in extremely poor condition.
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The Gloucester Visitor Information Centre last week advised people travelling the route that some sections of the road were almost four-wheel drive only and that extreme caution needed to be exercised by drivers.
The Forestry Corporation of NSW, which manages some of the more hazardous sections of the road, said it was aware of the situation.
“Major fires in the region have diverted local staff and resources over the past couple of months, so maintenance has been postponed until the end of the fire season,” a corporation spokeswoman said.
“Barrington Tops Forest Drive is managed by Gloucester Shire Council, the Forestry Corporation of NSW and the National Parks and Wildlife Services,” a spokeswoman for the corporation said.
“Forestry Corporation aims to complete annual upgrades to the sections of Barrington Tops Forest Drive it is responsible for, with the road maintained to four-wheel drive standard for the remainder of the year.”
The spokeswoman said the corporation was in talks with the National Parks and Wildlife Service as well as other bodies to discuss options for the future maintenance of the road.
“Barrington Tops Forest Drive is a costly road to maintain and Forestry Corporation does not have funding to increase its maintenance schedule,” she said.
“Forestry Corporation is in regular conversation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and has approached local and State government to discuss longer term funding for the road.”