The $2.56 million Blacks Drain crossing upgrade at South Murwillumbah is complete, almost a month ahead of schedule, delivering a safer, more flood-resilient Tweed Valley Way for the community.
Jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments, the upgrade replaces a repeatedly flood-damaged crossing with a stronger, long-term solution designed to better withstand future severe weather and keep the Tweed connected.
The Blacks Drain crossing has washed away multiple times, including during major floods in 1954, 2017 and 2022.
The project forms part of a $22 million investment to restore and upgrade up to 35 causeways across the Tweed Shire, helping improve road safety and strengthen the resilience of local transport networks.
This is being delivered through the Essential Public Asset Restoration Program and the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package under the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The restoration and upgrade involved installing rigid concrete pavement, improved pedestrian access, new traffic safety infrastructure and concrete slope protection to strengthen the crossing and reduce its vulnerability to future flood damage, while safeguarding existing critical underground services.
Nature is also playing an important role in the future flood resilience of the crossing.
Lomandra, a native grass-like species with a deep, dense root system, has been planted along the vegetation strip to bind the soil and provide additional stabilisation to the crossing infrastructure.
Lomandra is commonly used along riverbanks, creek banks and cane drains as a living defence against floodwaters and helped sections of a nearby cane drain withstand high-velocity flows during the 2017 and 2022 floods.
The completion of the Blacks Drain upgrade is another milestone in the Tweed's recovery from the 2022 floods, following significant restoration work across the Shire's flood-damaged road network, including Scenic Drive, Reserve Creek Road, Limpinwood Road, Numinbah Road, Nimbin Road, Kyogle Road and Tyalgum Road.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain:
"Completing the Blacks Drain crossing almost a month ahead of schedule is a great outcome for the Tweed community, providing it with a safer and more reliable connection while supporting the region's ongoing recovery from the 2022 floods.
"Together with the NSW Government we're rebuilding stronger and improving the resilience of local roads so communities are better prepared for future severe weather."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison:
"Communities in the Northern Rivers understand how important a strong, reliable road network can be, and how much impact is felt on the community when these roads close due to flooding.
"The Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package program ensures we aren't just repairing damaged roads and crossings, but we are building them better and stronger to withstand future weather events."
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Recovery and Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin:
"Reliable roads and crossing are lifelines that keep our communities connected to services and each other, which is why seeing the Blacks Drain crossing finished nearly a month ahead of schedule is a fantastic win for the Tweed.
"By learning from the past and building back better, we are giving our families, farmers, and local businesses the long-term confidence they deserve with transport links that are stronger, safer, and ready for the future."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot MP:
"The Albanese Labor Government is helping the North Coast build back better, by repairing damaged infrastructure and roads while also making sure the region is more prepared for the future.
"As your local MP, I'm proud to have delivered funding to ensure that Tweed Valley Way is more resilient and less likely to have road closures following severe weather events."
Quotes attributable to Tweed Shire Council Director Engineering Tim Mackney:
"It's incredibly rewarding to see the Blacks Drain upgrade complete and this important crossing fully reopened to the community.
"This was a complex project, particularly with critical underground services running through the site, and I want to acknowledge the crews and contractors who worked hard to deliver a great result.
"We were fortunate to have favourable weather during construction, which helped the team make good progress and complete the project earlier than anticipated.
"Most importantly, the community now has a stronger, more resilient crossing that is better equipped for the conditions we experience here in the Tweed."
