Byron Council seeking $200m to complete flood infrastructure repairs

Byron Shire Council says it is submitting 42 separate funding applications to the State and Federal Governments via Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to cover repair and reconstruction costs in the realm of $200 million, as reconstruction continues following the 2022 floods.

The Council says it suffered damage to over 600 pieces of infrastructure including roads, bridges, causeways and guardrails, as a result of floods

‘We are in the same boat as all the other flood-affected Councils in our region, waiting for news on the status of a number of our funding applications lodged to-date, to repair the damage done by the floods last year,’ Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway said.

‘And, we are competing with our neighbouring councils and all the other councils in NSW that had infrastructure damaged by the floods last year for this funding.

‘This is a very rigorous process and extremely time-consuming because not only do we prepare the case for flood damage and subsequent funding, but TfNSW staff need to check every single detail of each claim.

‘While more than 600 pieces of infrastructure have been damaged, as part of our funding applications, we have where possible, packaged together things like roads in a certain area, causeways in close proximity for instance, right down to replacement of guardrails and smaller assets that were damaged but are still important and have been included in our applications.’

TfNSW’s original application approval deadline of 30 June was last week moved to 31 December 2023.

‘Despite the deadline being moved, our strong position means all our applications will be made by 30 June – the original cut-off date. We have more than 50 percent of our applications lodged for funding approval and tracking through the TfNSW process, and the preparation of the remaining applications are well advanced,’ Mr Holloway said.

Council’s capital works teams are also continuing to roll out general maintenance for roads and drainage – as per the Capital Works Program.

While Council is waiting for funding approval for the majority of damage claims, disaster funding has been approved for:

• Federal Drive landslip and road reconstruction (work underway)

• Englishes Bridge (completed)

• Huonbrook Road drainage structures – (starting 2023)

Additional flood-impacted infrastructure projects that have been assessed by Council as being eligible for funding and which have been submitted to TfNSW  for funding approval include roads, bridges and causeways in the following areas:

• Kennedys Lane, Cedarvale Road, Durrumbul Road, Riverside Drive, The Saddle Road, Jones Road and Huonbrook Road – gravel road re-sheeting.

• Upper Wilsons Creek roads.

• Huonbrook Road major landslip.

• Coopers Lane and Coopers Creek Road.

• Beatties Creek Road and Johnsons Road causeways.

• Coopers Shoot and Picadilly Hill Roads.

• Robinsons Lane Road and causeways.

• Bridge and guardrail replacement program for Booyong, Donaghys, Jubilee Avenue, Keys, Palmwoods, Pioneer, Repentance Creek and O’Mearas bridges.

• Mullumbimby drainage structures.

• The Pocket Road.

For more information go to Council’s website: www.byron.nsw.gov.au.