Multi-million dollar projects approved for local road and infrastructure upgrades

RICHMOND Valley Council is pleased to announce the successful tenderers for a series of key projects set to enhance community infrastructure and services.

Following a thorough and competitive tender process, Council has awarded contracts to a number of reputable frms, ensuring the delivery of high-quality projects which will beneft residents and businesses alike.

General Manager Vaughan Macdonald said Council was committed to improving the quality of life for residents, as well as fostering economic growth.

Mr Macdonald said these projects were a testament to Council’s promise to continue investing in the community’s future.

He said the selection of these tenderers followed a rigorous evaluation process, ensuring each project would be delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and safety.

“Council is confdent these partnerships will bring signifcant improvements to local infrastructure, enhance public amenities, and support the overall development of the area,” Mr Macdonald said.

“Council offcers will work closely with the successful tenderers, and we will keep the community informed of the progress of these projects.”

The projects listed below are funded under Transport for New South Wales’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, with the exception of the Tatham bridges, which are being funded through the Australian Government’s Emergency Response Fund Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022-2023, and the new netball clubhouse, which was funded under the NSW and Australian governments’ Community Assets Program. All were extensively affected by the February-March 2022 fooding events.

Replacement of Tatham bridges

Quickway Constructions Pty Ltd was successful with its tender for the replacement of the twin bridges at Tatham, which represented best value at $13,076,237.

The building of two new bridges will improve food immunity and provide better connections for Coraki’s residents to Casino, as well increasing evacuation options and improve access to housing and supplies for the village during emergencies. Work includes vegetation clearing, earthworks, piling works, bridge construction, pavement and drainage, protection and relocation of existing services and landscaping.

The new bridges will be built on a new alignment and are expected to be open to traffc by the end of 2025.

Bentley landslip and road remediation

Green Civil Services

Pty Ltd was awarded the tender for the Bentley Road landslip remediation project. The $3.17 million project involves construction of Bentley Road to remediate the slip area and the rehabilitation of the road, with the objective to prevent further damage and restoring the structural integrity of the embankment and the road. The work includes

Free Breast Screening Returns to Grafton Through Partnership with BreastScreen NSW

Women in Grafton can now access their free biannual breast screenings at Clarence Valley Imaging, thanks to a successful partnership between the clinic and BreastScreen NSW. This essential service, which has already commenced, will be available until the end of the year.

BreastScreen NSW offers free breast screenings to support the early detection of breast cancer. Maggie Bawer, Acting Director of BreastScreen NSW North Coast, emphasized the importance of regular screenings for women’s health.

“Detecting breast cancer early increases your chance of survival while reducing the likelihood of invasive treatments, such as mastectomy or chemotherapy,” Ms.

Bawer stated. “One in seven women in NSW will develop breast cancer, and around 90 per cent of those diagnosed have no family history. This underscores the importance of breast cancer screening for all eligible women.”

Ms. Bawer highlighted that the partnership with Clarence Valley Imaging in Grafton makes it more convenient for women to attend their recommended screenings every two years.

“Bringing these vital services to Grafton means more local women can be screened. Life gets busy, and we want women to prioritize their health. I encourage local women not to wait for the mobile van to arrive but to book their free breast screen by calling 13 20 50 and visiting the clinic,” she site establishment and management, earthworks and site restoration.

Design and Construct Upper Cherry Tree road landslip Council accepted the $1,028,098 tender from The Trustee for Santin Trust to carry out remediation work on the Upper Cherry Tree landslip, which consists of a 60-metre section of road and associated drainage infrastructure, which was washed away during the February 2022 food event. With owner agreement, Council had a side track constructed on private land to restore access until a permanent fx could be constructed.

Design and Construct Upper Mongogarie road landslip The Trustee for Santin Trust was also successful with its $485,106 tender for remediation work on the Upper Mongogarie landslip. A 60-metre section of creek embankment washed away and is encroaching on to the road shoulder. This project involves the design and construction of a suitable rock retaining structure to remediate the slip area.

Design and Construct MR145 (WoodburnCoraki Road) landslips Council accepted a $898,929.82 tender from SEE CIVIL Pty Ltd for the remediation of two Woodburn-Coraki Road landslips. Council will contribute $28,209.64 towards the betterment component of this project to improve the base rock armouring of the impacted sites. This project is specifc to the remediation of two landslips where the embankments have been washed away, resulting in the Richmond River encroaching on the road shoulder, and compromising the stability of the road. The frst involves a single section approximately 30 metres long and the second location has two sections totalling 60 metres in length.

Netball clubhouse facility - Colley Park Casino Marathon Modular will construct a new netball clubhouse at a cost of $1,236,211. In February 2022 the entire facility was inundated with water, and thanks to the Australian and NSW governments, Council was successful under the Community Assets Programs to rebuild the facility. As the building site is in a stormwater basin zone, the new structure will be built above food levels on a pier and beam system. Delivering this style of structure future proofs the facility from food and storm events. In line with the Colley Park Master Plan, the work involves concept design, engineering design, construction of a raised modular building on a pier and beam system, installation of windows, external accessible doors, external stairs, access ramp, roof, guttering and drainage, installation of internal walls, ceilings and accessible doors, ft out of commercial kitchen for food preparation, canteen servings area, including plumbing, and a hot water system.

Further approvals have been given under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for multiple future road repairs in all Richmond Valley towns and villages, with work to take place over the next two years.

$928,350 GRANT AWARDED TO CLEAN REMAINING FLOOD WASTE

added.

The BreastScreen NSW Grafton clinic operates from Clarence Valley Imaging at 137 Fitzroy Street. Appointments are free, take less than 20 minutes, and do not require a doctor’s referral.

• All women are invited by BreastScreen NSW to screen every two years from age 50.

• Women with a family history of breast cancer should discuss their specifc needs with their GP.

• Anyone with breast cancer symptoms should contact their GP or health worker without delay.

To book a free mammogram with BreastScreen NSW, visit book.breastscreen.nsw. gov.au or call 13 20 50.

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffn has announced that the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has awarded Lismore City Council a grant of $928,350. This is to support the ongoing 2022 food clean-up and recovery work.

“Natural disaster clean-up and recovery is a long-term process. Those with experience of disaster recovery will know that bulky and contaminated waste often remains for some time after the initial clean-up.

“Often this waste isn’t revealed until way down the recovery track so this money is very timely.

“The council has been awarded the grant under Round 2 of the EPA’s Illegal Dumping and

Flood Waste Recovery Program, which is designed to help public authorities resolve food waste issues remaining after the initial clean-up phase, including illegally dumped food waste and bulky food waste.

“Lismore City Council will use the grant money to safely remove and dispose of residual fragments of food waste containing asbestos. The clean-up works will be project managed by the council using specially trained local contractors and are expected to be completed in 2025.

“Signifcant amounts of hazardous debris were generated by severe fooding events that inundated the Northern Rivers in the early months of 2022.

“The EPA has led several clean-up and recovery programs in the region to ensure waste left behind following the foods is removed safely and effciently.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said:

“I would like to thank the EPA and State Government for this grant.

“As everyone knows the 2022 natural disaster did a great deal of damage to the natural environment as well as the built environment.

“The grant is specifcally intended to cover the removal of food generated waste containing asbestos that has been found on public land in the Lismore LGA which will make a safer place to live, work and raise a family.