Contractor SEE Civil Pty Ltd has stopped work on site at the Tyalgum Road landslip restoration project as an Independent Technical Review commences on the project.
Manager Infrastructure Delivery Tim Mackney said the Tyalgum Road landslip remediation and road restoration project had required significant design work and refinement over many months which now faces a mandatory independent review, for approval by funding bodies: the NSW and Federal governments.
"The final design and total project cost estimate have now been completed and the estimated cost trigger of $25 million has been reached, requiring an Independent Technical Review, or ITR, by a third-party consultant employed by State authority Transport for NSW," Mr Mackney said.
"The consultant's review must then be approved by governing agencies, the NSW Reconstruction Authority and the Commonwealth's National Emergency Management Agency before works can continue on site on the permanent fix of the road.
"While the review could take up to six months, access is still available via the temporary access road."
Council appreciates this announcement may cause some concerns or frustration for Tyalgum residents and visitors but stresses direct access between the village and Murwillumbah continues on Tyalgum Road via the temporary track, albeit with possible short delays at traffic lights. There is currently no other change to the operation of the single lane, sealed, temporary access road which opened 24/7 for all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians on 30 October.
Council and SEE Civil will continue to maintain and monitor the temporary access track during the period of the Independent Technical Review and remind the public the access road may be temporarily closed if concerns are identified which could impact public safety and/or the rebuild effort.
Mr Mackney said there was no threat to funding or to the critical restoration works proceeding.
"State and Commonwealth funding is available to undertake the permanent works. We are still working towards opening a restored permanent road, without restrictions in 2025," Mr Mackney said.
"The Tyalgum project is the only site out of more than 3,500 road damages caused by the 2022 flood event that has so far triggered the ITR review and is required because of the latest designs and costings."
The extreme landslip on Tyalgum Road – 100m in height, 60m in length and up to 10m deep – slid down a hillside to the Oxley River during the February 2022 floods, causing the largest single damage to a section of road in the Tweed Shire of that event.
For more weekly updated information about this and other flood restoration projects visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/flood-recovery-update.
