Wooli’s only road in and out keeps going under in heavy rain. Now work has started to lift it two metres higher.
Clarence Valley Council is spending $9.7 million on major upgrades to Wooli Road and Lawrence Road.
Work has begun on Wooli Road to dramatically improve the flood immunity of Sandy Crossing, an 800-metre stretch that often goes under in heavy rain, cutting off the village of Wooli.
About 12,000 tonnes of rock and fill will be brought in to raise that section of road by two metres.
Drainage will also be greatly improved with an 11-metre bridge and a six-cell culvert, replacing smaller culverts that often get blocked with sand.
“Clarence Valley Council is committed to improving vital connections such as Wooli Road, which is the sole access road in and out of Wooli,” said Acting Clarence Valley Council General Manager Adam Cameron.
“This project will mean that Wooli residents are less likely to be isolated during heavy rainfall and flooding, significantly improving safety for the community.”
The $4.5 million Wooli Road project is due to be finished by the end of March 2027.
It is jointly funded by Clarence Valley Council and the Australian and NSW governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Council has also started rebuilding a 2.5-kilometre stretch of Lawrence Road, a popular route for travellers between Grafton, Maclean, and Yamba.
The road will be widened from 6.5 metres to 9 metres to make it significantly safer.
The $5.2 million project includes replacing about two kilometres of water mains.
It is due to be finished before the end of the financial year and is funded by the NSW Government following the closure of the Ulmarra Ferry.
“We are grateful for the funding from the NSW Government for this project which will benefit our local community,” Mr Cameron said.
“This project is great news for the Clarence Valley.
“Clarence Valley Council is committed to improving our road network, including vital connections such as Lawrence Road, which many residents rely on every day.”
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