The popular Fernleigh Track will remain closed between Redhead and Whitebridge after a catastrophic bushfire left significant damage.
Crews from Lake Macquarie City Council, including an arborist and asset specialist, inspected the path on Monday 8 December.
It followed a substantial bushfire, which swept from Redhead to Dudley at the weekend.
Manager city works Matthew Brogan said more than a dozen trees, some of which are large eucalypts, were at high risk of falling across the route without warning.
“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,” he explained.
“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 revealed several trees, including one huge eucalypt, had already toppled next to the shared path.
Mr Brogan strongly advised people from using the track between Whitebridge and Redhead for the time being.
“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,” he 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.”
NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews worked tirelessly to control the blaze on Saturday 6 December and Sunday 7 December.
“It’s thanks to them that there isn’t more destruction along the track,” Mr Brogan said.
“Fortunately, the track itself, fencing alongside the path and seating along the route were all saved from serious damage.”
Council will work with contractors to safely remove the at-risk trees in coming days and will provide updates as soon as they are available.
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