The Blacks Drain upgrade on Tweed Valley Way in South Murwillumbah is a $2.56 million project to restore and strengthen the road after it was badly damaged in the 2017 and 2022 floods. A temporary repair was put in place after those events, and work is now starting on a permanent, flood‑resilient solution.

Funding

The project will be funded through:

$1.8 million from Essential Public Asset Restoration funding under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
$413,000 in Betterment funding from the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package.

The remainder will be funded by Council if we are unsuccessful in gaining additional disaster recovery funding.

What’s being improved

A stronger concrete road surface

Council is replacing the old gravel and bitumen with a strong concrete road surface. This will make the road last longer and stop it from breaking up or washing away during heavy rain or floods. As a result, the road will close less often, need less maintenance and provide a more reliable connection for the community after major weather events.

A safer, more durable footpath

The gravel shoulder is being replaced with a wider concrete footpath and safety railing. This gives people a stable, non‑slip surface that won’t wash away in bad weather. These improvements make the route safer and easier for everyone who walks through the area.

Improved traffic safety features

New safety features are being put in to help drivers get through the crossing more safely, especially after floodwater goes down. The design uses special guardrails and handrails that fold down in a controlled way if there’s a flood but still protects drivers and pedestrians if there’s a crash. This design protects the concrete in the roadway, minimises the flood debris that catches in the guardrails and handrails, and they can be quickly stood back up after a flood.

Extra kerb work and smoother driveway connections are also being built for the 2 properties directly affected. This will make it easier for residents to drive from their existing driveways onto the new road surface.

Stronger flood protection for the embankment

The existing rock and earth embankment is being strengthened with concrete to stop floodwater from wearing away the downstream side of the crossing, which has caused problems in the past. This upgrade will help the structure stand up to future storms and reduce disruptions for the community.

To make room for the new embankment and protection works, about 800 m² of land on the eastern side of Blacks Drain is being formally resumed.

Construction

Construction is expected to start 15 June 2026 and will take about 20 weeks, weather permitting.

Work hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 6 pm. Works may need to be conducted some Saturdays, between 7 am to 1 pm.

Traffic changes during works

Tweed Valley Way at Blacks Drain will be reduced to one lane counterflow traffic during the works
please allow additional time to pass through the works, especially during morning and afternoon peak periods
traffic will be managed under traffic lights and/or traffic controllers
temporary road closures during work hours will be required and may cause delays of up to 10 minutes.
please do not use on-street parking within the work area
limited access to some properties and driveways within the work zone during work hours
Rose Lane access will be restricted with limited local access only through this period
please ask the traffic controller for help if you need access
pedestrian movement may be restricted with no pedestrian access through the work site.

Project benefits

Once complete, the upgrade will provide a safer, stronger and more resilient road that can better withstand future weather events.

Blacks Drain in the aftermath of the 2017 and 022 floods.

Blacks Drain in the aftermath of the 2017 and 2022 floods.

Blacks Drain after the temporary road repair.

Blacks Drain before works commence.

Tweed Valley Way - Blacks Drain upgrade