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Council will begin investigations into a long-term solution for Blacks Drain at South Murwillumbah to ensure its resilience in the face of future flooding events.
The investigations will start following the completion of temporary repairs to restore two-lane access to the notorious drain crossing on Tweed Valley Way due by the end of this week, weather permitting.
The drain washed away in March 2017 and again in February 2022 following the two most significant flooding events in the Tweed’s recorded history. Previously, it also washed away in the flood of February 1954.
Following the most recent flood, Council immediately established one-lane emergency access at the location on Tweed Valley Way and reinstated water and sewerage services.
Focus will now turn to finding a more long-term solution to the problem to build flood resilience against this happening again.
Council’s Director Engineering David Oxenham said the structure was more complex than it appeared and required specialist engineering design.
“This particular section of Tweed Valley Way is both a roadway and a hydraulic structure. It also provides a crossing for water, sewer, power and telecommunications,” Mr Oxenham said.
“Our crews are currently working on a temporary two-lane fix along this section of Tweed Valley Way so we can ease traffic delays while a more permanent, flood-resilient design is being investigated.”
Works on widening the embankment of Blacks Drain are currently underway with road sealing to be completed shortly afterwards.
Similar to other roads in the Tweed that sustained significant damage during the flood, the crossing will require various investigations, consultations with local stakeholders, environmental assessment and approvals, engineering design and planning approvals. A specialist contractor will then be engaged to carry out the works.
“Given the site’s complexity and other pressing priorities across the Tweed, the permanent works may take up to 2 years to complete,” Mr Oxenham said.
“We apologise for any inconvenience and ask for your patience as we work towards more permanent repairs.”
For more information and to keep up to date with what’s happening on our roads, visit MyRoadInfo or the Tweed Emergency Dashboard.
To learn more about how we build, upgrade and maintain a safe and connected local road network, including how we prioritise road maintenance projects, visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/roads.
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