Halstead Drive in Casino rebuilt

The NSW Government-funded rebuild of Halstead Drive in Casino has been completed, says the NSW Labor government, which delivers ‘long-term flood-resilient public access to the Richmond River after the original road was destroyed in the devastating 2022 floods’.

They say in a media release, ‘The $2.5 million project was funded through the Crown Lands Flood Recovery Program and delivered by Richmond Valley Council’.

‘Halstead Drive, which runs along the banks of the Richmond River, provides the only public access to the waterway for recreation, community events, cultural activities, bridge maintenance and emergency response.

‘The Minns Labor Government provided a $980,000 funding injection last year so Richmond Valley Council could finalise the engineering and reconstruction stage after initial works to remove debris, undertake geotechnical investigations and prepare a resilient rebuild design were completed.

‘The reconstruction of Halstead Drive reflects a broader NSW Government priority to move beyond simple replacement. By applying a ‘build back better’ lens, the government is delivering community facilities that are more durable, sustainable, and capable of maintaining essential public access during future flood events.

‘Reconstruction works included:

• major stabilisation and anchoring of the river embankment to prevent future erosion
• new drainage infrastructure designed to handle runoff
• installation of retaining walls and gabion structures to reinforce the shoreline
• revegetation using native plants to naturally strengthen the riverbank
• reconstruction of the road to contemporary, flood-resilient standards.

‘The restored road will be used as a safe, shared community space, with access limited to pedestrians and essential emergency and maintenance vehicles’, they say.