Since the 2022 floods there are many roads in the Byron Shire that have received little or no work to bring them back to a reasonable standard. In many cases it has been local road users that have cleared them and ensured they have remained passable.
The recent revelation that Google Maps has ‘cancelled’ Main Arm Road at Upper Main Arm means that the ‘suggested’ route from Palmwoods to Motts Road is now via Mooball, Stokers Siding, and Uki has only emphasised the issue for many local road users.
Byron Shire Council (BSC) has claimed repeatedly that there is no money to fix the roads or do basic required maintenance – today the state and federal governments have announced that Byron Shire will receive $52.5 million in additional disaster recovery funding to help the Byron Shire Council restore damaged road infrastructure.
‘The funding, provided through the jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, will go towards restoring the slope at multiple locations and repairing the culvert at Coopers Lane,’ states the government press release (PR).
‘Funding received will be used to repair landslips on: Coolamon Scenic Drive (two locations), Left Bank Road (two locations), Wilsons Creek Road (three locations), Coopers Creek Road (two locations), Goonengerry Road, Frasers Road, The Pocket Road (three locations), Tristran Parade, Huonbrook Road (five locations), Johnsons Road (four locations), Dry Creek Road, Main Arm Road, Monet Drive, St Helena Road, Wanganui Road, and Possum Shoot Road.’
Flood ready or just repairs?
‘We are really grateful for the state and federal government finally coming through with the money for these essential repairs,’ Duncan Dey, a spokesperson for the Coopers Lane Residents Association, told The Echo.
‘However, we don’t want it repaired, want it made flood ready and the additional cost to make it flood ready is minor compared to the cost of this repair. And each future repair will cost the same as this repair because the culvert will still not be flood ready.’
Several years work
Eight packages of funding have been approved for this work and range in value from $506,000 to $15.89 million. Because of the volume of work, repairs will be carried out over a number of years according to the press release.
‘This funding will enable Council to get on with the vital work of restoring the local roads that people use every day to travel to work and education, see their families and get to medical appointments, said NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison.
‘Working together across all levels of government, we are ramping up investment to help communities remain connected or re-connect faster following a severe weather event.’
NSW Member for Lismore and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, Janelle Saffin said, ‘I know that my Parliamentary colleague State Member for Ballina Tamara Smith will also welcome funding for extensive restoration works to improve resilience of Byron Shire roads within both of our respective electorates. I am very pleased to be part of a government making a significant investment in better road safety for local residents and visitors who use these roads on a daily basis.’
Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliott highlighted how important it is to keep communities connected during and after natural disasters.
‘These roads upgrades across the Byron Shire are about building back better, by repairing the damage and ensuring locals can access safer and more resilient roads,’ she said.
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