The black soil road is located between Millie and Tyrone Roads.

The frequently used road is an important gateway for Gurley resident Ian Cush.

“It’s a critical road for us; we will be travelling an extra 7.5km further with every trip to Gurley when we cart grain,” Mr Cush said.

“It would cost my business an extra $6000 in wheat cartage alone and I would have to allow extra on-farm storage to make up for the longer truck turn around,” he said.

Scott and Jenny Carrigan of Tyrone Pastoral Company agreed with Mr Cush in a letter sent to the council.

“If the road was to be closed it would lend itself to an increase in fuel, wages, repairs, maintenance and time.

“Inefficiency to our business is not what we aspire to.”

According to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Kirramingly Nature Reserve is of a very high conservation value as it contains the only reserved representative example of the once widespread Mitchell Grass/Queensland Blue Grass.

They have identified a number of significant environmental benefits in closing this section of the road.

They believe closure of the road would limit the introduction of foreign weeds into the reserve.

However, the road has also been described as an important fire route in the event of a grass fire.

The Namoi-Gwydir Rural Fire Service has consulted the Gurley brigade regarding the closure of Glendello Lane.

The captain feels the Glendello Lane provides timely access to the Toreador and Ogilvie area which is extremely important in the event of structure fires and motor vehicle accidents.

“For this reason the RFS would prefer that the Glendello Lane is not closed,” Namoi-Gwydir inspector Angela Daly said.

Councillor John Tramby was passionate about the road staying open.

“These people have not seen the fires that occur along this road; it acts as a firebreak and is a very important access point for the fire brigade,” he said.