MidCoast Council is continuing work on a large and complex flood recovery program following the May 2025 flood event, with hundreds of roads, bridges and drainage sites in need of repair across the region.
The scale of the recovery program remains significant, including over 70 bridges requiring repair work; six bridges needing full replacement; over 100 separate landslip locations; and over 4,000 flood-damaged sections of road.
The remaining transport flood recovery program is estimated to cost around $230 million, with the total expected to shift as specific works get approved for roads, bridges and landslip sites.
To date, Council has submitted more than $89 million in claims to the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) for emergency works, immediate reconstruction works and major reconstruction projects.
This reflects an enormous quantity of work in investigating damaged sites, costing repairs, and preparing detailed claims.
NSWRA is currently prioritising the assessment of Emergency and Immediate Reconstruction submissions Council lodged before 31 March 2026.
Director Infrastructure and Engineering, Rob Scott said that Council is responsible for ensuring all projects meet strict eligibility, safety, engineering and environmental standards.
"It is essential that we carefully document and manage every project because non-compliance with funding conditions or legislation can result in rejected claims or delays," Mr Scott said.
"The road monitoring cameras installed on waste trucks have helped us prove flood damage on much of our network. This is because we have a clear image of roads before and after the flood," Mr Scott said.
"This is good news for the community because we're one of the few Councils able to prove our eligibility for a large number of repair projects. Unfortunately, It also means that defects or issues that existed before the flood aren't likely to be fixed as part of the recovery program."
Major projects currently progressing include:
Belbora Creek Road, which is now substantially complete.
- Design work for The Bight and Tiri Bridges.
- Repairs and reconstruction planning for Thunderbolts Way and The Bucketts Way.
- More than 100 landslip repair locations currently being prepared for construction packages.
- Repair planning across 760 roads, with 4,738 flood damaged sites, throughout the MidCoast region.
- Council is facing a range of challenges, including contractor and material shortages, weather disruptions, and rising material costs and supply impacts linked to overseas events.
To help reduce delays, Council is working closely with suppliers, contractors and the NSW Recovery Authority.
Keep informed of roadwork taking place across the MidCoast by visiting Council's Roads Hub https://haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/midcoast-roads-hub
