Tweed Shire Council has received $3.75 million from the state and federal governments’ Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) to repair the South Murwillumbah Flood Levee.
This, together with the replacement of Byrrill Creek Bridge at a cost of $4.35 million and due to start on October 2, are the Shire’s two largest flood repair projects from the March 2017 flood.
Contractors are nearing completion of the final major works to roads around the Shire, with the reopening of Clothiers Creek Road set for next Wednesday and work on the last three landslips on Urliup Road due for completion next month. Some minor works will continue to the end of the year.
Danny Rose, Council’s roads and stormwater manager ,said securing NDRRA funding to repair the South Murwillumbah Flood Levee was one of the last key steps in the Tweed’s flood recovery efforts.
‘We are now very much into the home straight and all before applications for disaster funding close,’ Mr Rose said.
‘This is an amazing achievement and I would like to thank the state agencies for working so well with us to fund the bulk of repairs to our roads, bridges and flood infrastructure.’
South Murwillumbah was one of the hardest hit areas in the March 2017 flood, sustaining widespread damage and losses to both businesses and homes.
After the flood, Council installed a temporary emergency repair to reinstate the levee crest but a more permanent solution was required as the levee does offer some protection to the community in minor flood events.
Repairs to the flood levee will include stabilisation of the riverbank, which supports the levee, using rock revetment. NSW Public Works Advisory has been engaged to design and manage the levee repair and design work is well underway. The work will be undertaken by contractors and take several months to complete.
Other programs designed to reduce the flood risk across South Murwillumbah include the voluntary house purchasing schemes and the ground-breaking $3 million industrial land swap – both partly funded by the state government.
