Warrumbungle Shire is set to carry out more than $15 million in work to its infrastructure after being disaster-declared on numerous occasions throughout 2021 and 2022.
Restoration work is already underway across the shire on roads that were directly impacted by the multiple natural disaster events with some of the work now expected to take up to two years due to the amount of work needed.
The Australian Government and the NSW Government through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) recognised that in 2021 and 2022 the Warrumbungle Local Government Area (LGA) was hit by multiple flooding events, declaring them as natural disasters and providing funding to repair the affected road network.
“Locals will recall the intense rainfall and damage it has caused to properties, infrastructure and the road network throughout the Shire,” Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Ambrose Doolan said.
“It has taken some time for roads to be assessed and defects to be determined then the funding applications to be approved before restoration works could commence.”
“However, Council has now obtained $10.57m in funding for the 2021 Natural Disaster event and repair works are in full swing with a lot of noticeable improvements. Road crews have been focusing their time on the Flood Damage repair program to make a dent in these defects and get our road network repaired in a timely manner.
“Council has submitted further funding applications for the 2022 Natural Disaster events bringing the total claim for these Natural Disaster events to almost $7.4m, and once that funding is obtained further works will be scheduled.”
The council would like to thank the Australian and NSW Governments for providing funding through the jointly-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
“The funded restoration works will take some time to be completed, in some cases works may take up to two years,” Cr Doolan explained.
“With the sheer amount of works needing to be completed. Council has taken on additional staff plus engaged more contractors to help with the restoration works along with using staff from outside of their normal areas including Urban Services teams to assist the road crews,” Cr Doolan explained.
“In addition to this council has also called for three separate tenders for repair works in specific areas across the Shire, two contracts have now been issued.”
The Council is also very pleased to report that in addition the Pothole Repair Program was completed on time. Council was provided with an additional $864,000 for pothole repairs across the LGA with the project completed by 31 December 2023.
“Road users are reminded to take extra care when travelling the roads across the Warrumbungle Local Government Area and to drive to the conditions of the road and be mindful of Council plant and crews working on the roads,” said Cr Doolan.
