Weeks of regular torrential rain have taken a heavy toll on the region's roads, with potholes opening up and widening across Wollongong and Shellharbour.
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The scale of the problem can be seen in the fact Wollongong City Council has received four times the number of reports of potholes this March than the same month last year - more than 400 contacts.
As councils assess the damage and calculate the cost of the repair works, residents are having their say on a problem many say is the worst they have seen.
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The city council said it didn't count how many potholes needed urgent repair work, but the reports tell their own story.
"We work on a responsive 'as needs basis', which means we don't need an ongoing comprehensive list of potholes, as teams are tasked with prioritising issues and attending sites as soon as possible," a council spokesperson said.
"That said, during March 2022 we received 443 service requests from community members for help with potholes. During March 2021 we received 109 requests."
While the council has three bitumen trucks that can respond quickly, proper repairs are likely to take longer as the hole needs to be dry before a lasting fix can be applied.
Drivers have taken to the Mercury's Facebook page to vent their frustration, with one intersection standing out - some said you could even lose your car in it.
"Darks Road at the intersection with West Dapto Road. A 4WD will soon be required. Seriously, there is no bitumen left," said Warren Southwell.
"Avondale Rd - I've lived in the area for seven years and it is the worst I have seen it. It's so dangerous, especially sharing the poorly maintained road with the trucks," said user Tiffany n Jesse.
Lisa Field nominated Darkes Forest Rd, Darkes Forest. "Has been reported to council by several residents still not fixed," she said.
"While we continue to experience wet weather, we will continue to see potholes on our roads throughout the Wollongong Local Government Area," the council spokesperson said.
"We won't know the cost of repairing these extra potholes until after the weather begins to clear and we're able to complete the work and then compare with previous periods."
We'll leave the last word to an unknown wit, quoted by Mercury reader Pennie Price:
"In England they drive on the left hand side of the road. In Australia we drive on what is left of the road."
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Ben Langford
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
