Geoff Helisma
Clarence Valley Council’s media release – Severe weather impacts Clarence Valley road network – addresses the exponential growth in potholes caused by flooding and/or incessant rain; and explains the meteorological and historical reasons that have compounded the problem; however, it does not advise residents how permanent and durable repairs will be achieved.
Potholes were becoming a major problem on many of Clarence Valley’s roads long before the recent floods – two la nina years in a row ensured that the valley’s roads would be tested.
Meanwhile, Clarence Valley Council (CVC) has not, in the public’s eyes, been proactive enough.
Social media platforms, including CVC’s, are full of people making negative comments about CVC’s alleged inaction.
On Monday morning, one commenter, Scott Graham, who posted on the Clarence Valley Rate Payers, Residents & Business Owners Facebook page, put it succinctly, “I hate to (likely) create a sh..t storm by asking this question, but is there a publicly available document that outlines how the CVC will repair our flood-damaged roads in a reasonable timeframe and where funds are coming from to do so?
“(Apologies if this is common knowledge).”
It’s a question, among quite a few others, that the independent has been asking CVC since emailing its communications team on February 17.
On Friday April 29, the Independent asked again, for the fourth time, along with extra questions regarding CVC’s August 25, 2020, decision, which nominated various roads across the valley for reclassification.
The August 2020 business paper advised councillors, “The process of classifying roads is a mechanism used by the NSW Government, to assist in the effective allocation of State government road funds and the allocation of road management responsibility between state and local government jurisdictions.”
The Independent pointed out that some roads – Southbank Road, Palmers Channel, for example – are likely to need reconstruction, rather than further pothole patching.
Clarence Valley Council responded with the following statement but did not directly address specific questions.
“Clarence Valley Council’s consideration of service levels and reprioritisation evolves with available budgets and resources, grant opportunities, and weather impacts.
“The Clarence Valley had received significant rainfall in the months leading up to the unprecedented rainfall and floods in February/March 2022. This has placed considerable pressure on Council resources to address an increasing backlog of road defects.
“It is important to recognise that Council will always have roads to maintain, however there have been five natural disasters since the 2019 bushfires.
“Road maintenance and reconstruction requires varying methodologies that need to be supported by evidence-based data including traffic volumes, road safety, pavement age/condition and budget.
“For example, Council will be targeting a 2km section of Yamba Road ($1 million) for roads and pavement rehabilitation (2022-2023) to mitigate the ongoing maintenance obligations of pothole patching.
“With a total road network of more than 2,400km servicing a population just over 50,000, Council supports the TfNSW Regional Road transfer and NSW road Classification Review aimed at supporting local councils to better manage and maintain the rural road network.
“Armidale Road (104km) has received in principle agreement for it to be reclassified to a State managed road. Council currently requires a full-time patching crew to address the ongoing road defects.
“Kyogle and Clarence Valley councils have also submitted a joint application for Clarence Way to be reclassified.
“The road classification review process across the State is managed by Transport for NSW and is yet to be finalised.”
Meanwhile, Scott Graham provided some good follow-up advice to readers of the ratepayers’ page, “This is what I wrote to the mayor; I’d encourage everyone to do the same.
“Good morning Ian [Tiley],
“Can I ask whether [if] there is a plan, now or being developed, for the repair and ongoing maintenance of the CVC road network, post this year’s significant flood events?
“I understand that this is a significant piece of work, but I’m curious to see how this work will be performed, how it’ll be funded and who will do it.
“Thx in advance.”