YAMBA ROAD FLOOD RESILIENCE

Road raising to significantly reduce closures

Yamba Road will have increased flood immunity under the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package (RRTRP) co-funded by the NSW and Federal governments.

A grant of almost $10 million announced in March will go towards investigation and reconstruction of the intersection of Yamba Road and Palmers Channel South Bank Road. This low spot is the first section of Yamba Road to close during riverine flooding.

Significant planning and flood modelling is required to determine the feasibility of potential road raising at this location, or rehabilitation with more resilient pavement designs to better withstand flood water inundation.

The package allows assets to be rebuilt to a higher standard to withstand future extreme natural weather events, and will inherently reduce the required maintenance and repair works after each flood event.

The successful grant application was an important part of the Yamba Road Flood Resilience Strategic Plan to target ongoing flood immunity and asset resilience.

As part of the RRTRP, Transport for NSW were also awarded a package of works to investigate improved flood immunity by raising levels of Yamba Road from the James Creek Road intersection to the southbound on ramp of the Pacific Highway. These works will undergo the same level of planning and investigation as the above project and Council staff will work closely with TfNSW as partners in the project.

PICTURED: Above; the Yamba Road Flood Resilience Strategic Plan covers multiple sections of Yamba Road between Maclean and Yamba. The red shaded areas are identified as section to focus on pavement strength and resilience, and green shaded areas as low sections to be raised to target flood immunity.

Maclean Levee Road Funding

The flood-damaged road behind the levee wall at Maclean will be repaired using a $600,000 grant under the NSW Government’s 2022 Crown Lands Flood Recovery Program. The road located on Crown Land provides safe access to the Clarence River for fishing and other water sports.

Completed Asphalt Works

2.1M HEIGHT AT MACLEAN FLOOD GAUGE FOR YAMBA TO BE ISOLATED BY FLOODS

Asphalting works on Yamba Road west of Harwood Bridge towards Maclean has been completed.

The works involved the milling out and 40mm asphalt concrete overlay of 8,016m2 of road surface.

6,939 NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE IMPACTED AREA IN 2021

The 450m section adjoins the $10 million funding approved section east of Harwood Bridge designated for increased flood resilience and immunity. It is part of a series of asphalting projects on urban roads under Round Three of the Fixing Local Roads program and the capital works fund.

SIMILAR TREATMENTS COMPLETED IN EARLY 2023 INCLUDE:

 7,821m2 of 50-year-old road surface in Junction Hill streets Capricorn Crescent, Aries Road, Gemini Street, Aquarius Drive and Taurus Avenue;

21.26% PERCENTAGE OF PREDICTED GROWTH BY THE YEAR 2041, WITH THE POPULATION EXPECTED TO REACH 8,562

 1404m2 at the Tyson Street intersections with Swallow Road and Induna Street in the South Grafton industrial estate;

 3,802m2 in Osprey Drive, Yamba.