OBERON district's Jenolan Caves will be closed for the autumn school holidays after the latest extreme rainfall at the site caused significant damage to the attraction.
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More than 230 millimetres of overnight rainfall on Friday, April 5 flooded the area and caused landslips as well as damage to buildings and roads in the Jenolan Caves vicinity.
The tourist attraction has been affected multiple times in recent years by extreme weather, including the Green Wattle Creek bushfire in early 2020 and heavy rainfall in 2021.
A spokesperson for Jenolan Caves said the attraction will likely remain closed after the school holidays due to safety concerns resulting from the damage.
"Jenolan Caves staff are currently undertaking assessments to understand the full extent of the damage," the spokesperson said.
"The roadway in the Caves House precinct has been significantly damaged and no vehicles are allowed on it.
"Fortunately, initial assessments show no damage to the show caves, in which water levels rose significantly during the rain."
Caves' calamities
The spokesperson said the closure will not affect working hours for employees.
"Staff are continuing to work on repairs, maintenance and ongoing conservation programs while the site is closed," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said a full damage assessment will need to be completed before the staff can determine a reopening timeline.