A total of 5.25km of Armidale Road is being reconstructed under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to help communities recover from eligible disasters.
The two projects at Nymboida and Clouds Creek with a total indicative cost of about $3.6 million are being carried out by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) after Clarence Valley Council identified and scoped the works required, and received approval for a full width reconstruction. Council generally has a crew dedicated to maintenance of Armidale Road, however as a regional road TfNSW was in a position to provide some assistance to Council under the DRFA
“The conditions of various sections of Armidale Road were identified to have deteriorated to such an extent to warrant a full reconstruction over an extended length,” Council’s Disaster Response Coordinator Nigel Sutton said.
The 3.01km of works from the Nymboida Coaching Station south are spread over a distance of 7km and split into six sections ranging from 30m to 1.4km long.
The Clouds Creek package of works starts another 9km further south, comprising six sections from 60m to 1.1km for a total of 2.24km of works ranging over a distance of 3.5km.
Council began the application process when the extent of pavement damage was revealed shortly after the February/March rainfall and flood events. After the funding approval was finalised, Transport for NSW were engaged by Council and started the works in August, which are due to be completed by October.
Traffic controllers are in place at both locations and motorists can expect some minor delays.
The DRFA are joint Commonwealth and State government funded and came into place in 2018. Through the scheme, works are also underway on Gardiners Road, Amos Road, Palmers Channel South Bank Road at Palmers Channel. Council is in the process of finalising approval for additional works on Armidale Road, as well as School Road, O’Keefes Lane and Gillies Lane at Palmers Island, and various streets in Iluka including Iluka Road.
“At the end of the day people just want their roads fixed,” Mr Sutton said. “But there is a process to go through. There are things happening in the background, and we are starting to get a body of works approved.
“These works are about re-instating assets to pre-disaster conditions. While patching delivers a temporary solution, these reconstructions make the roads more resilient.
“However, they also take a bit longer to get approved, and it would not have been sensible to start reconstructing roads in May when it was still raining. We are now seeing favourable conditions and things are starting to happen.”
Photos: Allan Donaghey / Clarence Valley Council
