'We won't be reopening it': What happens when the road you live on could be closed for good

When a bushfire destroyed Bob and Wendy Palmer's holiday house in the NSW Southern Tablelands on New Year's Eve, they were determined to rebuild. Wingecarribee Shire Council Mayor Duncan Gair said reopening the road would cost between $4 million and $8 million — a price tag that was "totally impossible" for his municipality. "It's going to be up to the State Government because we won't be reopening it — we just haven't got the financial capacity," he said. Wingecarribee Shire mayor Duncan Gair says council can't afford major road repairs. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said Transport for NSW was working with Wingecarribee Shire Council to help them make a claim for damaged assets under the state's Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.