Leo Vanunen has been a resident on Narira St for the last 20 years and has been calling for Bega Valley Shire Council to repair it.

“It’s getting to be a street in Quaama that’s unusable,” he said. 

On its western side, which connects to Gordon St, there is a steep hill with deep ruts and loose dirt that becomes dangerous to drive on when it rains, Mr Vanunen said.

For instance, he said after recent rains his disabled daughter was picked up to be taken to her school in a small bus, but when the vehicle was going down the hill it slid out on to Gordon St. 

His daughter has severe physical and intellectual disabilities and requires a wheelchair to move around. As she remains in the wheelchair even when transported in a vehicle, Mr Vanunen was concerned about her being “knocked around” when driving down the rough street. 

While Narira St also connects to Bega St on its eastern side, Mr Vanunen said this side stayed damp and slippery a long time after it rained and was developing holes. He has towed cars from this side after it rained and they became bogged. 

“We just want the road fixed so I can get my daughter in and out of home without any dramas,” he said. 

“We’ve had the ambulances here a few times for her and they had difficulty in getting up the road.” 

Mr Vanunen was speaking on behalf of residents from four houses on the street, including Terlisha Wootton, all who were calling for it to be repaired. 

“I’d love to see it fixed, it’s terrible,” Ms Wootton said. 

“We haven’t been able to drive up it when it’s been raining.” 

Council’s manager of strategy and asset services Jason Deller said the road was an unformed and non-maintained council street created as part of the original town of Quaama subdivision and also known as a “paper road”.

“Council has no plan to change Narira St. Any works that wish to be done by residents in the road reserve need to have approval from council,” Mr Deller said.