More than $52.5 million in additional disaster recovery funding has been approved by the Albanese and Minns Governments to help the Byron Shire Council restore damaged road infrastructure.
The funding, provided through the jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, will go towards restoring the slope at multiple locations and repairing the culvert at Coopers Lane.
Funding received will be used to repair landslips on: Coolamon Scenic Drive (two locations), Left Bank Road (two locations), Wilsons Creek Road (three locations), Coopers Creek Road (two locations), Goonengerry Road, Frasers Road, The Pocket Road (three locations), Tristran Parade, Huonbrook Road (five locations), Johnsons Road (four locations), Dry Creek Road, Main Arm Road, Monet Drive, St Helena Road, Wanganui Road, and Possum Shoot Road.
These repairs will help ensure that communities in the Byron Shire can access safer and more resilient roads.
Eight packages of funding have been approved for this work and range in value from $506,000 to $15.89 million.
Because of the volume of work, repairs will be carried out over a number of years.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Jenny McAllister:
“The 2022 floods had an enduring impact on the community of Byron Shire.
“We’re restoring roads across Byron Shire to help families stay connected and help businesses access roads they can rely on.
“We’re working with all levels of government to help local communities not only recover but rebuild for the long term.”
Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot:
“We know how important it is to keep communities connected during and after natural disasters.
“These roads upgrades across the Byron Shire are about building back better, by repairing the damage and ensuring locals can access safer and more resilient roads.
“I’m proud to be part of the Albanese Labor Government, delivering this joint investment with the NSW Minns Labor Government to continue disaster recovery in the Byron Shire.”
NSW Minister for Planning, Paul Scully:
“We saw how heavily impacted parts of the Byron Shire have been by weather events in recent years so this investment is important.
“These works on multiple sections of road in the Byron Shire will be welcome and will help restore normal travel routes around the area.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison:
“We know the NSW North Coast is vulnerable to severe weather events, and this funding will help Byron Shire Council carry out the necessary repairs to get them back on track.
“This funding will enable Council to get on with the vital work of restoring the local roads that people use every day to travel to work and education, see their families and get to medical appointments.
“Working together across all levels of Government, we are ramping up investment to help communities remain connected or re-connect faster following a severe weather event.”
NSW Member for Lismore and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, Janelle Saffin:
“I know that my Parliamentary colleague State Member for Ballina Tamara Smith will also welcome funding for extensive restoration works to improve resilience of Byron Shire roads within both of our respective electorates.
“I am very pleased to be part of a government making a significant investment in better road safety for local residents and visitors who use these roads on a daily basis.”
Duty MLC for Ballina, Emily Suvaal:
“It has been great to work with the Member for Lismore and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, Janelle Saffin, to help secure this funding.
“Working cooperatively within and across all levels of government is how we get things done.”
Byron Shire Council’s Manager of Infrastructure Recovery, Phil Warner:
“We want to be up front with our communities, who are obviously eager for repair work to be completed. It’s fantastic that we’ve received funding to do these important repairs but in some cases it will take us several years before we complete the work.
“This is because we need to plan the work, get it approved, and secure materials and people to do the work.
“We thank the community for their continued patience and will keep everyone updated on the timeframes for each of the repairs.”