Darkes Road at Kembla Grange has been closed since the floods in February 2022, due to damage to a bridge. Wollongong City Council has advised the road will continue to be closed for another year. 

This closure is a massive drain on financial and time resources of the residents who use Darkes Road primarily to access shopping centres, the freeway, and other amenities locally. Having to circumvent this road requires more time, more petrol, and more wear on tyres and cars as the condition of West Dapto Road continues to decay. 

This partition urges Wollongong City Council to repair Darkes Road urgently, and also asks for a reduction in rates of local residents until this road is repaired fully.