One of the most picturesque villages on the Coffs Coast now has a golden gateway to the Orara Valley following a $1.1 million road upgrade.
Managed by the City of Coffs Harbour and funded by the Australian Government, the complex renewal of Gale and Martin streets has delivered safer, smoother and more durable roads for residents, businesses and visitors.
The project involved the renewal of about 7,665 square metres of road pavement and wearing course (the topmost, exposed layer – the ‘driving’ pavement) across key sections of Gale and Martin streets.
“This was a challenging project and a shoutout to the community and travellers for their patience during the construction. The end result was worth the wait and speaks for itself – it looks fantastic,” Mayor Nikki Williams said.
Gale Street is one of the Coffs Coast’s most significant hinterland roads and is home to the celebrated and historic Coramba Hotel.
Coramba was originally home to the Bagawa people of the Gumbaynggirr Nation, whose connection to the valley stretches back thousands of years. European settlement began in the 1850s, and William Gale, one of the district’s earliest settlers, selected the land that would become the township, with the main street now bearing his name.
“Gale Street is a critical transport corridor for the wider region and the renewal works will help ensure this important local and regional transport route continues to serve the community for decades to come,” City Infrastructure Director Andrew Beswick said.
The project was delivered by head contractor Stabilcorp, a Wauchope-based specialist in in-situ pavement stabilisation, with Boral undertaking the final road surfacing works, including the spray seal wearing course.
Funded through the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program, the project involved significant reconstruction works and several complex challenges.
The completed works included pavement stabilisation, new road surfacing treatments and fresh line marking to improve road visibility, traffic guidance and safety. As part of the resurfacing, 585.36 tonnes of asphalt were laid on Gale Street, creating a durable, smooth-running surface.
The upgraded pavement has been designed to achieve a 25-year design life, reducing future maintenance requirements and improving long-term reliability.
The works also improved Martin Street, which provides access to local residences, recreational areas and the pedestrian bridge across the Orara River.
“Crews removed and replaced approximately 1,248 cubic metres (2,625 tonnes) of unsuitable pavement material to provide a strong and reliable foundation for the new road surface,” City Transport and Open Space Services Group Leader Daniel Noble said.
“The works included decommissioning and capping seven groundwater monitoring wells, lowering five shallow water service lines, managing a shallow Telstra service, and removing a redundant underground asset.”
Additional works included street tree trimming and canopy lifting to improve road clearances while protecting existing street trees. Construction was hampered by several weeks of wet weather, requiring adjustments to the project start date.
The City thanks residents, local businesses and Coramba Public School for their patience and understanding during the renewal project.
“The project team has delivered a high-quality infrastructure upgrade that will provide lasting benefit to the Coramba community and the broader Orara Valley region for many years to come,” Beswick said.
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