Upper Main Arm residents have no time frame for when their dangerous, pothole-ridden road will be repaired; however, recent correspondence by local MP Tamara Smith to a resident states that ‘Byron Shire will be receiving funding to repair the road in the New Year’.
Residents contacted The Echo, exasperated at the condition of Main Arm Road past Koohinur Hall, claiming that the road is again only accessible by 4WDs, and the road shoulders have eroded to dangerous levels.
The road also connects to Uki and Tweed Shire, and services tourist attractions like Unicorn Falls. Walking tracks in the area are now under construction, which aims to attract further visitors.
Given the lack of detail on funding, The Echo asked Transport for NSW, ‘What level of funding is expected, how much will be repaired/rebuilt and what is the time frame for the road?’
A Transport for NSW Spokesperson told The Echo, ‘Byron Shire Council has submitted its Essential Public Asset Restoration (EPAR) submission, and Transport for NSW is working with Council to undergo the assessment process against the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement guidelines’.
‘To meet the funding requirements, Council will provide additional information this week to progress the claim. Continuing rain in the Northern Rivers region and the heavy volumes of holiday and normal traffic has continued to impact these roads. Transport and Byron Shire Council meet regularly for discussions to ensure safety and access to the road network after a declared disaster event.
‘Owing to the complexities involved in natural disaster recovery, after the impacts of several natural disasters, Transport works hard to meet with, and collaborate with Council, to ensure the best possible outcome for the community (including temporary fixes to restore access) for the Byron Shire local government area communities’.
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