Flood Restoration - Roads & Bridges

Following the February and March 2022 natural disaster, Wyrallah Road suffered extensive damage. Funding has now been secured to complete restoration works.

The works will include repairs to the bridge approach and guardrail on the western abutment of Wyrallah Ferry Road Bridge, and pavement rehabilitation from Bridge Street south on Wyrallah Road. Please see map of proposed work sites below.

All works will be completed under single lane traffic control. Properties within this area are accessible, however please be aware of delays. Electronic billboard signage will notify motorists of detours via Lismore and Tregeagle Road. Updates will also be available via Live Traffic NSW and Your Say (page details below). Road users are advised to seek alternate routes, as single lane closures are likely to cause heavy traffic delays.

Council wishes to advise that we will be using an area within the road reserve, at the intersection of Coraki Road and Wyrallah Ferry Road for the storage of gravel for these and other works.

Additional segments of Wyrallah Road have also been identified for heavy patching works to repair flood damage to road surface. Scheduling of these works will be advised at a later date.

The geotechnical investigations have taken place at the landslip north of Bridge Street. The proposed remediation works are complex, requiring specialist contractors and designers and unfortunately will not be completed concurrent with these works. This remediation will take place in 2023.

Further information and updates will be posted on this page.

Additionally, to receive updates directly please contact Lismore City Council via email council@lismore.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 6625 0500 to register your details and feedback. Please reference ‘Wyrallah Road Works’ in your correspondence.

Following the February and March 2022 natural disaster, four culverts on Cawongla Road suffered extensive damage and require replacement.

For the safety of motorists and due to the nature of works, a full 24hour hard road closure is required for both work sites. The closure will be in place for the duration of these works . Works are occurring concurrently at both sites.

Site 1: One culvert replacement adjacent to 169 Cawongla Road, Cawongla approximately 1.25km south of the Quilty Road and Cawongla Road Intersection.

Site 2: Three culvert replacements approximately 500m south of Larnook Public School, adjacent to 1224 Cawongla Road, Larnook.

Please review the road closure locations to determine whether accessing from Kyogle Road or Rock Valley Road is most appropriate for your property. Due to the nature of works, access through the work sites is not possible.

Road closure is expected to be in place approximately 6 weeks during November to December 2022, subject to weather, material and contractor availability. After this time, road will open to single lane traffic while final stages of the works are completed.

Council is proposing to complete the works under extended working hours to ensure the works are finalised as soon as possible. Additional works may include but not limited to extended hours on weekends.

Arrangements have been made with Larnook Public School for students, families, and staff of the school. Further communication regarding changes for access to the school will be communicated from the school principal and relevant bus companies directly.

Council has consulted with Richmond Waste; rubbish collection will be impacted. For collection service updates and information, Richmond Waste has provided their Operations Department number to contact directly – 02 6621 7431.

Larnook RFS have a plan in place for service vehicles due to location of the station. Council will advise other emergency services. However, in the scenario emergency services are required please note the road closures on your call to assist, and consider if your closest hospital may be Nimbin, Kyogle or Lismore.

What are the works?

The roadworks comprises reconstruction of a total of four collapsed culvert lines. This includes the following work:

• Clearing of vegetation and trees adjacent to the embankment failure
• Excavation and removal of the existing road surface and embankment material
• Reconstruction of arch culvert
• Road embankment reconstruction at each culvert location
• Road pavement reconstruction

Tree clearing, temporary fencing and site establishment will commence from the first week in October, in preparation for the works to commence.

These works are the commencement of flood remediation works for Cawongla Road. Funding is currently being reviewed for further pavement repairs. Temporary patching is currently being carried out for sections of Cawongla Road until further funding is approved by Resilience NSW.

What do I need to do?

Please commute through the detour at low speed, obey adjusted speed limits and directions from any traffic controllers, and drive carefully. Please also adhere to all road closed signs. We will ensure all driveways and farm gates that intersect the road match any changes to the road profile and are safe for property owners/residents.

At times the roadworks may create dust, which will be managed by a water cart during work hours.

Who should I contact with questions/concerns?

We apologise in advance for the disruption and delays you may experience whilst we upgrade the road. We ask that commuters please plan extra travel time during the construction period, in particular the road closure period.

Further updates will be shared via this page.

Additionally, to receive updates directly please contact Lismore City Council via email council@lismore.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 6625 0500 to register your details and feedback. Please reference ‘Cawongla Road’ in your correspondence.

Additional FAQs

Will there be works planned for Quilty Road?

Two weeks of remediation works will be carried out on Quilty Road prior to Cawongla closure occurring. This includes:

Shoulders widened to allow passing vehicles

Pothole patching with gravel overlay to improve driving conditions

Landslip damage has been cleared, with gravel road graded

Repair of damaged culverts

Vegetation management, cutting back the vegetation at the sides of the road to allow more space for vehicles

*Please note, that not all traffic will be diverted via Quilty Road. Just motorists accessing properties between the two work sites.

Landslip and current conditions on Martin Road

Council are currently prioritising projects in regards to public safety, with consideration for minimising further damage and maintaining access between communities.

Martin Road is known to Council and works are being reviewed. The high priority is on Cawongla Road for now, due to the collapsed culverts posing future risk to a number of road users.

Cawongla Road Closure Period

This work is expected to take six weeks, estimated to start first week of November and carry through December. Start dates will be advertised closer to the time, pending weather, contractor and material availability. Six weeks has been advertised as the designated closure period, which takes into account additional time for unforeseen delays.

Due to old culverts needing to be removed and replaced, it is estimated earthworks to complete this task will require a potential 8+ metre excavation, resulting in a worksite inaccessible for motorists. A number of road access options have been considered, and will continue to be reviewed as works progress.

Community Consultation

Council has met and will continue to communicate with Larnook Public School and Larnook RFS representatives to ensure community needs are considered for these works. Additionally, to be emailed direct updates, you can register your contact details with Council.

Plans to manage the closure period are still being finalised with Larnook Public School, this includes the bus services. Direct communication will come from the school for families, students and staff when the plan is finalised.

Mail out to residents was sent September 12 to 100+ addresses. The letter was an early indication of the closure, and plan of works. Further more specific information will be shared closer to the closure date. Additionally, this early notice was also shared with a number of local businesses, Kyogle Council and emergency, transport and postal services.

***Update Friday 2 September, 2022***

Due to contractor and machinery availability, closures will commence from Monday 12 September across the three sites (not Monday 5 September as previously advised). We apologise for any inconvenience***

Geotechnical drilling is required to investigate sub surface conditions at several landslips that have occurred along Oakey Creek Road. To ensure safety for motorists, a full road 24-hour road closure is required at the work zones. The road closure will move progressively throughout 12^th – 22nd September, as drilling across the three sites is completed (subject to weather and ground conditions).

A road closure with traffic detour is required, as the drill rig being used will block the entire road during operation. Traffic will be detoured via Gwynne Road. Access to all residences is still possible, including for all adjoining roads (McLennan, Billen, Mitchell, Lane and Abbey). Please allow additional travel time for the detour.

Grading and emergency patching has been completed for Gwynne Road, prior to this detour taking place.

The construction schedule to remediate the slips will be determined based on the scope of works and availability of subsequent contractors. Construction is expected to occur in 2023, residents will be notified at each stage of the works.

Temporary measures including gravel fill, to improve driving conditions of Oakey Creek Road will be completed shortly, while permanent landslip remediation works are reviewed.

For current rubbish removal, Council will trial collection from the end of resident driveways on Oakey Creek Road over the coming weeks. For residents on adjoining roads, please place your bins at the Oakey Creek intersection, at the end of your road. First pickup will be Friday 2nd September, please place your bins on Thursday night ready for Friday collection. Shall the trial be unsuccessful, we will notify you of alternate arrangements.

Road works are also currently being reviewed and scheduled for Mountain Top and Jiggi Road.

Further updates will be shared via this page. Just click 'Oakey Creek Road' in the Projects By Name menu.

Additionally, to receive updates directly please contact Lismore City Council via email council@lismore.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 6625 0500 to register your details and feedback. Please reference ‘Oakey Creek Road Closure’ in your correspondence.

Works are drawing to a close on the Keerrong Bridge project.

Due to the February and March 2022 events, the collapsed culvert structure, located north of the intersection with Dudgeon Road was replaced with a new bridge. Measuring 7.2m wide, and 16.1m long the new InQuik concrete bridge will restore much needed access via Keerrong Road.

Construction started back in May of 2022, and the bridge will now undergo a soft opening from Tuesday, 30 August 2022. Temporary traffic control will remain in place until approach guard rail has been installed. An official open date will be advertised as these works are finalised.

Following the bridge opening, Keerrong Road will be open to through traffic from the Nimbin Road intersection through to the Keerrong Bridge Road intersection.

As part of the construction, the approaches to the bridge were also replaced with more suitable material and sealed for the safety of motorists.

There are still traffic control measures in place on Keerrong Road further north of this intersection whilst flood remediation works continue.

Johnston Road will remain closed over the weekend. Installation of the inclinometers (used to measure the movement of the landslip) could not be completed as scheduled. Therefore, the truck mounted rig will need to sit in position over the weekend, which significantly impacts road usage.

On-road drilling remains on track to be completed by Friday 26 August. Stop/go traffic control will be onsite for Monday to allow motorist through Johnston Road until the geotechnical works are completed.

We appreciate your patience.

There are a number of road projects currently being completed. The below are updates for some of the projects which are progressing this week.

If the road or project of interest isn't included below, please click the road name to the right (for desktop) of this page, or by scrolling to the bottom of the page (for mobile) for updates.

Additionally, please utilise the Q+A function of this page to request specific updates.

Black Road - Design is underway for a replacement structure. A temporary crossing is in place.

Caniaba Road - Drainage works complete, shoulder widening works including a rock foundation is ongoing.

Cowlong Road - Works are progressing near Lavis Road. Construction works planned for completion late September.

Cawongla Road - Community consultation is underway in preparation for the road closure to replace four damaged culverts.

Gravel Roads Program - Flood repair works are progressing. Approximately 60% of the LGA has now been complete with four road grading crews working full time on these works. Grading of gravel roads in Precinct 11 (including The Channon and surrounds) is due to commence in September. Please take care around the mobile plant. View the Precinct map and completion dates HERE

Gungas Road - Pavement works well underway. Works expected to be complete by October.

Hensen Bridge - Concrete abutments have been poured. Concrete bridge beams to be placed September in preparation of the deck pour.

Johnston Road, Clunes - Geotechnical investigations finalised this week, with instruments installed to monitor the slip. Road reopened Monday 29th August under stop go traffic control until investigation works are complete.

Keerrong Bridge - Concrete bridge complete including bridge approaches. Bridge will be opened under traffic control early September.

Keerrong Road - Repairs to a 1.8km section on Keerrong Road is progressing well which will be complete by early September.

Oakey Creek Road - Community consultation is underway in preparation for geotechnical investigations to determine the scope of work required for landslip remediation.

Pinchin Road - Pavement stabilisation repair on several sections of Pinchin Road will commence August 29th. Single lane traffic control in place for the duration of works (5 weeks, weather permitting). Works on Keerrong Road will be postponed from September 1st, to allow additional traffic flow while Pinchin Road works are completed.

Sexton Bridge, Gundurimba Road – Piling works commenced with abutment works planned for the next 3 weeks.

Terania Creek Road - Segments have been identified to be included in the Flood Recovery Heavy Patching Program, which will provide improvements to the structural integrity of the road and driving conditions for road users. Geotechnical monitoring of the slip site is underway, as is procurement of specialist contractors and designers. Once works are complete at the slip, bridge approaches will be repaired and the road graded.

Town Road - Bridge structure has been procured and works are expected to commence in late 2022.

Tuntable Creek Road - Drilling has been undertaken on the slips, with geotechnical instrumentation installed to monitor movement to best inform the required structural design. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of suitably qualified geotechnical engineers at present. Council has started the procurement process to engage a designer and contractor to undertake restoration works. Additionally, funding has been received to undertake pavement repairs on damaged sealed-sections of Tuntable Creek Road, which is scheduled for October.

Keerrong Road - repairs to a 1.8km section

Sexton Bridge piling works commenced

Cowlong Road, near Lavis Road

Pinchin Road is scheduled to undergo pavement repairs on some sections of severely damaged areas from Monday 29th August 2022.

Initially the works will start with drainage remediation to allow water to drain from the pavement. Following these works there will be a pavement stabilisation crew mobilising to site to stabilise the existing pavement. As well as adding an additional 100mm of new road base material to improve the pavements strength.

This work is a large roads maintenance activity and will take approximately 5 weeks to complete (weather permitting).

A single lane traffic closure will allow traffic to travel through the worksite. Signage will be in place to notify road users, and updates available on Live Traffic NSW. Works on Keerrong Road will be postponed from September 1st, to allow additional traffic flow while Pinchin Road works are completed.

Following the February 28 and March 2022 flooding events, a road embankment landslip and tension cracking have occurred on Johnston Road, approximately 1km from Bangalow Road.

There is currently an interim road closure in place, allowing local access only. Geotechnical borehole drilling and the installation of inclinometers and piezometers will commence from Monday 22^nd of August for one week (subject to weather and ground conditions). For the safety of motorists, a full road closure at the slip location will be in place for the duration of these works , with access granted to the properties located within the road closure only. To ensure your travels are not delayed, please review the road closure location to determine whether accessing from Eltham Road or Bangalow Road is most appropriate for your property.

Minor surface grade repairs, shoulder works and signposting for longer term traffic arrangements will also take place during this time. On completion of these works, the road will be reopened to one lane of traffic under a give-way arrangement at the slip locations. This arrangement will remain in place for several months until full remediation work commences.

A detailed site survey will be needed to get a full understanding of the landslips impact to the surrounding area, and to undertake the detailed design of the restoration. The survey will take approximately 2 days and will be completed after the geotechnical investigations, dates TBC. The survey will involve a combination of traditional (on foot) and drone survey, as per the extent in the following image. During the survey you may see surveyors working on the side of the road, or a drone flying overhead.

On-going monitoring of the inclinometers and piezometers will be required for a few months following the installation (timeframe will be confirmed from the data recorded). This on-going monitoring will ensure the slips behaviour / displacement is fully understood and the design of the remediation is robust and fit-for purpose. The on-going monitoring will involve a geotechnical engineer re-visiting the instruments once per week and taking readings by hand for approximately 30 minutes at each location. The instruments will be located within the shoulders of the road to enable the readings to take place with no impact to traffic. The approximate locations of the instruments are shown below.

The geotechnical investigations and survey will determine the detailed design and cost of the repair, which will be included in an application for funding to complete this work. Approval for funding is anticipated to be received by the end of August. Construction is planned to be commenced by the end of 2022, subject to approvals, contractor availability and weather.

Further updates will be shared via this page as works continue.

Additionally, to receive updates directly please contact Lismore City Council via email council@lismore.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 6625 0500 to register your details and feedback. Please reference ‘Johnston Road’ in your correspondence.

***Update Thursday 1 September, 2022***

South Skyline Road closure will be extended until Wednesday 7/9/2022 next week due to difficult drilling conditions. We are aiming to have the rig off the road, and the road opened up over the weekend.***

Following the February 28 and March 2022 events, Skyline Road has suffered damage due to a landslip, adjacent to 353 Skyline Road. Funding has now been secured to complete remediation works.

To undertake remediation, geotechnical drilling under engineer supervision is required. Instruments to monitor further ground movement and water table will be installed for monitoring, to assist designers and determine the scope of works.

Drilling is expected to commence this week. Motorists will be advised via roadside signage. A track is available each way allowing access past the slip. Please use caution and drive carefully.

Further updates, including commencement of construction for remediation at a later date will be shared via the News Feed tab of this page.

Additionally, to receive updates directly please contact Lismore City Council via email council@lismore.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 6625 0500 to register your details and feedback. Please reference ‘Skyline Road Landslip’ in your correspondence.