Susanna Freymark
The Clarence Way has had many stops and starts – where is it at now?
At the Monday, October 13, Kyogle Council meeting Danielle Mulholland (from her hospital bed) asked this question about the Clarence Way.
Can we have an update as to where we are with the Clarence Way? At one stage it was fully funded so what happened and why?
Here is a summary of the council’s response on the funding for Clarence Way.
There has been a funding shortfall for the Clarence Way. The main reason for this is that the funding estimates were developed in 2019.
Since then, there have been cost escalations for road construction, which means the allocated funding was not able to deliver the full scope of work.
In late 2024, Kyogle Council submitted a request for a $17.6million variation and a time extension to the Remote Road Upgrade Pilot Program to enable upgrades to the remaining 13kms between Bonalbo and Urbenville.
Unfortunately, this request was not approved.
The council sought further funding for the Clarence Way through the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program submitting applications under Tranches 2, 3 and 4.
These applications cover two projects – each valued at $6.25million (totalling $12.5million – note these grants require a 20% council co-contribution) – targeting sections in the Bean Creek and Yabbra Scrub areas.
The Tranche 2 application was unsuccessful, while outcomes for Tranche 3 are expected before the end of 2025, and Tranche 4 results are anticipated in early 2026.
Sandilands to Bonalbo
Currently 12 of 18 upgrade sections (9.8km of 17.5km) are complete between Sandilands and Bonalbo and 65% of the budget has been spent.
Works are progressing well with two crews working on the flood immunity improvement projects at Culmaran Creek and Tunglebung Creek.
These projects are programmed for completion in December 2025. Read more about these projects here.
After the flood immunity projects are complete, works will progress to the remainder of the Sandilands to Bonalbo upgrades with completion of the last section programmed for mid-2026.
Based on the current progress, there is high confidence that the full 17.5km of upgrades will be completed with the available funding.
Bonalbo to Urbenville
For the Bonalbo to Urbenville link, about 18km of 31km has been upgraded and 96% of the original $25.9million funding has been spent. Works were recently completed on an 800m rehabilitation at Joes Box and flood damage heavy patching repairs are in progress near Old Bonalbo.
At the completion of the heavy patching works, the remaining funds will cover:
• Final sealing and line marking works
• Installation of some minor safety improvements with additional signage and guardrail.
There is also $1million from the Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund allocated to the Bonalbo to Urbenville link. The scope of this work has not been finalised.
Full agenda for the Kyogle Council meeting on October 13 can be read here.