Incorporating resilience into Council and community infrastructure will be the focus of the Tweed’s 2023 schedule of flood recovery restoration work, the Shire’s Mayor has announced.
Mayor, Chris Cherry has welcomed yesterday’s joint announcement by the Australian and NSW Governments to offer an additional $70 million to help flood-affected communities across the State, including the Tweed, repair community infrastructure.
“The devastating floods of 2022 impacted a wide range of community infrastructure, Council buildings and facilities across the Tweed, but plans are well underway to build back better this year,” said Mayor Cherry.
“This additional funding will certainly help in the repair of these vital community facilities which play such an important role in the lives of so many people and which have been missed since they were damaged in the flood.
“To see them being brought back into operation will certainly give us much to cheer about.”
Among Council’s top priorities for restoration of community facilities is the repair of Murwillumbah Community Centre (MCC) with work anticipated to start later this month.
The service has been operating on a temporary basis out of Council’s Coolamon Centre since its headquarters in Knox Park were inundated last February.
To ensure better protection during future flood events, repair works will build in greater flood resilience through measures such as raising power and data points, installing more cement sheeting walls and replacing timber doors, cabinetry and carpets with more water-proof materials, Mayor Cherry said.
Other community facilities due for flood restoration work include the Tweed Heads Library, several community halls, the Murwillumbah saleyards, the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre (TRAC) and the fire control centre in Murwillumbah used by the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
The Tweed’s sporting community will also have reason to cheer with work schedules for reconstruction being developed with many different sports clubs.
More than $1.5 million has already been secured to help clubs reinstate and repair clubhouses, restore lighting, repair courts, playing surfaces and implement resilience practices such as relocating electrical boxes to higher locations.
The work will be carried out across several different sporting codes including rugby league, AFL, hockey, netball, soccer, touch football, cricket and tennis.
