What happened?
Heavy rainfall in February and March 2022 caused significant damage to the Armidale to Kempsey Road, between Big Hill and Blackbird Flat, further exacerbating damage from prior natural disasters in 2019 and 2020. While the revised restoration scope is being fully documented, the specialist geotechnical engineers have identified 10 slips which imminently threaten the integrity of the road and require emergency repairs.
The February and March 2022 events have impacted a large swathe of NSW with numerous roads suffering significant damage and many communities remaining isolated. The number of roads suffering major slips and requiring urgent restoration is placing unprecedented demand on geotechnical and slope remediation resources.
Council worked in partnership with specialist contractors to clear the majority of the road from debris and undertook immediate repair works on the most significant slips at Flying Fox Cutting and Waterfall Corner, Big Hill and Smith’s Flat.
These initial emergency works were largely finished in the first quarter of 2023. Any further works needed at these sites is being taken forward into the Early Works phase and/or the Main Recovery Works phase of the project.
Where are we at?
The project is now in the Early Contractor Involvement phase which is when all the necessary preparation is undertaken in the lead-up to the Main Recovery Works. Council is working with Seymour Whyte Constructions on the following, but not limited to:
- Progressing detailed design
- Determining the scope of all works to complete the project
- Finalising project costs and resourcing
- Preparing the project works program
- Site investigations to inform early works
- Working out what early works need to be carried out before Main Recovery Works can begin
- Preparing and signing off various deeds and contractual documents before any early works can begin.
Feedback is also being sought from the community as the various aspects of the project are developed and finalised.
The Main Recovery Works are expected to begin in 2024.
More information can be found on the Community updates page.