Joint media release with the Hon Janelle Saffin MP
The Albanese Labor Government's $150 million Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP) continues to deliver for the Northern Rivers, with key roadworks near Ballina reaching a major milestone.
Work on the duplication of two bridges between Ballina and the M1 motorway has reached a major milestone, with piling works underway to boost flood evacuation capacity and safeguard access to Ballina Island during natural disasters.
The work to build an extra Fishery Creek Bridge (on River Street) and Canal Bridge (on Tamarind Drive) is backed by $48 million from the Albanese Government's NRRRP, administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, as well as $36.08 million from Ballina Shire Council.
The new bridges and adjacent road corridors will be built higher and wider than the existing network, expanding each arterial route to four lanes and doubling overall traffic capacity.
Key features of the upgrade include:
- Expanded capacity - doubling lanes across both waterways to accommodate 26,000 daily vehicle movements, projected to reach 29,000 within 10 years.
- Active transport links - a new dedicated footbridge on the southern side of Canal Bridge, plus new shared paths connecting into the existing pedestrian and cycleway network
- Resilience upgrades - enhanced stormwater drainage systems and undergrounding of power lines to better withstand severe weather.
The Albanese Government committed $150 million through the NRRRP to deliver 36 flood mitigation and community resilience projects across all seven Northern Rivers local government areas impacted by the devastating 2022 floods.
For more information on the project visit Ballina Bridges Duplication.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain:
"This project is another example of our government's commitment to risk reduction and resilience across the Northern Rivers following the devastating 2022 floods.
"The works will transform access to Ballina Island, using newer and stronger infrastructure with flood resilience at front-of-mind.
"This will not only deliver safer, more reliable access for residents every day, but also during emergencies."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin:
"This project shows what three levels of government - federal, state and local - can achieve when working together to build back better for regional communities.
"Bridges are the lifelines of our transport network. During severe weather, reliable access routes mean the difference between safe evacuation and isolation, while keeping critical supply lines open and emergency services moving.
"Local councils cannot bear the heavy financial life of major resilience infrastructure on their own. Combine funding through programs like NRRRP gives councils the essential backing they need to build stronger, higher and more flood-resilient assets that will protect local communities for generations."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliott:
"As your local MP, I'm proud to be delivering $48 million in federal funding towards the Ballina Bridges Duplication project.
"This project is yet another example of the Albanese Labor Government delivering on our commitment to making our roads more resilient."
Quotes attributable to NSW Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith:
"Our community welcomes this investment from all levels of government in critical infrastructure for Ballina Shire.
"Building infrastructure that supports future population growth and that is better able to withstand future climate challenges like sea level rise shows foresight and clever spending that we so rarely see in public life."
Quotes attributable to Ballina Shire Council Mayor Sharon Cadwallader:
"This is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Ballina Shire Council. The Ballina Bridges Duplication project is a significant investment in the future of our community, and we are grateful to our funding partners for helping turn this vision into reality.
"This $85 million investment is not just about building bridges - it's about building confidence in our transport network, improving safety, supporting economic growth and ensuring our community remains connected and resilient for decades to come.
"Delivering major infrastructure comes with a responsibility to protect the natural environment that makes Ballina such a special place. Throughout construction, measures will be in place to safeguard water quality, manage environmental impacts and ensure the long-term health of our waterways."
