Council Making Steady Progress to Repair Flood Damaged Roads, But More Funding Needed
26 March 2024
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Since the Shire was impacted by five flooding events between March 2021 and September 2022, Warren Shire Council has been working methodically through the complex process of funding and then repairing its damaged local roads.
Mayor of Warren Shire, Councillor Milton Quigley, says that Council has been working to repair the damage caused by excessive rainfall and flooding over the past few years.
“These five back-to-back flooding events caused significant issues across many of our local roads, but obtaining the appropriate funding to repair them is a complex process, and we’re required to work through several steps across all levels of governments.
“As a result, the time from when the actual damage occurs to when the road is repaired, is often far lengthier than we would hope.
“While some residents may be frustrated with the speed of progress, Council crews have been working as quickly and safely as possible to repair the damage,” Mayor Quigley says.
General Manager, Gary Woodman, added that throughout the process, community and motorist safety remains of paramount importance.
“Safety is our top priority, and our first focus is always ensuring that any road section damaged by flooding is made safe for motorists through Emergency Works and Immediate Reconstruction Works funding.
“Council has completed Emergency Works and Immediate Reconstruction Works for all five of the flooding events experienced between March 2021 to September 2022, and we’re now working to obtain the remaining funding required to fully rectify the damage.
“I want to assure residents that we’re aware of the sub-optimal condition of some of our local roads, such as Carinda Road, and we’ll certainly be expediting repairs when funding is received.
“It just isn’t feasible for Council to fund these significant repairs from our existing budget, and we rely on support and funding from the State and Federal Governments. Unfortunately, their approval process takes time, but we’re endeavouring to restoring our roads as soon as we can,” Mr Woodman says.
As always, Council encourages road users and residents to drive to the current road conditions and report any issues to Council. Road condition reports can be lodged by calling Council on (02) 6847 6600, or by email to: council@warren.nsw.gov.au
Summary of the Process for Repairing Roads Damaged by Flooding:
- After a flooding event, Council lodges a disaster declaration application to both NSW Reconstruction Authority and Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW).
- The NSW Reconstruction Authority and TfNSW then forwards the application to Commonwealth Government.
- If the application is accepted, the Commonwealth Government makes a disaster declaration.
- TfNSW then gives approval to Council to commence Emergency Works.
- Council commences Emergency Works. These works are meant to make safe any unsafe road section, before funding for substantive work is approved. A local example is on the Carinda Road floodways, where aggregates were spread to permit all-weather access.
- Council lodges an application for Immediate Reconstruction Works funding.
- Once approved, Council implements the Immediate Reconstruction Works. Local examples of this work include: Ellengerah Road, Udora Road, Collie-Trangie Road, and Marthaguy Road.
- Council collects information regarding the damage. These include pre-event and post-event information and photo evidence, and an estimated cost of repair. These are submitted to TfNSW.
- TfNSW assesses the information and forwards it to the Commonwealth Government for approval of the Essential Public Asset Reconstruction Works (EPA RW).
- Once EPA RW is approved, Council is able to implement the work as a matter of priority.
-ENDS-
Media Enquiries:
Councillor Milton Quigley
Mayor, Warren Shire Council
ClrMQuigley@warren.nsw.gov.au
Ph: 02 6847 6600
Gary Woodman
General Manager, Warren Shire Council
gary.woodman@warren.nsw.gov.au
Ph: 02 6847 6600
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