As the nation continues to deal with natural disasters, Tweed Shire Council has reflected on the work it has done since the 2022 floods to repair and restore the Tweed—and the scale is astounding.
Undertaking the huge number of projects while continuing to deal with floods, deluges and cyclones over the past 3 years has seen Council develop improved strategies relating to restoration work which will serve the Tweed well into the future.
Council estimates that the NSW and Commonwealth Government will jointly contribute about $310 million of grant funding to restore damage caused by the 2022 flood of which Council has spent approximately 60% to date.
Since 2022, flood restoration of the Shire's road network has included:
- 640 major projects like landslip stabilisation and bridge and culvert upgrades
- 1,910 minor projects like reconstruction of road pavements, scoured road shoulders and culverts
- 730 emergency repairs to provide short term access on blocked roads by removing landslip debris and trees and making interim pavement repairs.
The 2022 floods caused widespread damage not just to Council's roads, but also to buildings, water, wastewater, IT, flood mitigation, parks and recreational infrastructure.
Flood restoration has, as a result, required the repair of 50 buildings, 10 water and wastewater facilities and 8 flood management assets such as flood levies and flood gates.
While all emergency and minor repairs have been completed from the event, the remaining restoration works from 2022 are currently being prioritised and are due to be complete by June 2026.
Council Director Engineering David Oxenham said the scheduled completion of the major repairs was delayed by the 2024 and 2025 severe weather events which have prevented works and damaged sites. There were also disruptions to material supplies and contractor availability.
The 2024 January weather event was initially estimated to have caused $15 million of damage eligible for NSW and Commonwealth Government funding.
Restoration projects for this event included 150 major and minor projects of which 25 have been completed and 200 emergency repairs, all of which have been completed.
To date, Council has spent about $3.2m on recovery from this event and all restoration works are due to be completed by June 2027.
In March of this year, the Tweed was hit by Tropical Cyclone Alfred which is estimated to have caused $43.5 million damage to Council infrastructure.
Council received an initial $1 million in funding from the NSW and Commonwealth Government for cleanup, mostly of green debris, and is estimated to have about $2.4m in building insurance claims.
While the final cost of repairs is still being determined, Council has identified that disaster restoration will require about 18 major and 220 minor road projects, repairs to around 80 buildings and removal of approximately 25,000 m3 of green debris from Council parks, gardens, reserves, roads, caravan parks and the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
The 595 emergency works activities to remove green debris and provide safe road access will be completed by mid-June 2025 and restoration of all damage is due to be completed by June 2028.
While Council used contractors to clean up green debris and deliver minor projects, the majority of the massive effort needed to identify, assess, cost, document and submit project proposals for NSW Government assessment has been achieved using existing Council staff.
This has meant prioritising Council responses to the March 2025 event, while Council staff endeavoured to keep progressing responses to previous events and delivering on their "day jobs". As a consequence, there have, at times, been delays in both these disaster responses and business-as-usual processes.
Council wishes to acknowledge the wide range of contractors who have delivered these works, without whom, this would not have been possible. We also thank the community for their patience whilst we undertake the essential design, procurement, and construction processes.
