In a major step towards improving flood mitigation in Murwillumbah, construction of a new stormwater pump station behind the levee at Murwillumbah (Brothers) Leagues Club has begun.
The $1.626 million project is being undertaken by Tweed Shire Council in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Reconstruction Authority (RA) and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
The new pump station is one of several projects being delivered in the Tweed Local Government Area as part of the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP).
The Australian Government-funded NRRRP provides $150 million to deliver flood mitigation and resilience projects across the Northern Rivers’ region, which was devastated by flooding in February and March of 2022.
The aim of the NRRRP is to drive long-term resilience and ensure communities are better equipped to withstand and recover from future disasters.
Work started in early May and is expected to take about three months to complete, weather permitting. During construction, the levee wall and dirt track behind the Brothers clubhouse will not be accessible to the public.
Two new pumps will be installed, standing approximately two metres tall, which combined will be able to move almost 1,000 litres of stormwater per second at full speed.
Under the NRRRP, $6.67 million has been awarded for several other projects supported by an additional $2 million from the RA.
These projects are:
- Wharf Street pump station upgrade
- Lavender Creek pump station upgrade
- New pump system within east Murwillumbah levee
- Detailed evacuation procedures
- Alma Street modification
- Earthworks across Lot 4 on Quarry Road and modification of Condong Creek.
Construction began on 9 May 2024 with work to be undertaken from Monday to Friday, between 7 am and 6 pm, with occasional Saturday operations between 7 am to 1 pm.
During construction, the levee wall and dirt track behind Brothers Leagues Club will be closed, with site fencing erected around the construction area for safety purposes.
Occasionally, the park gate at the end of Murwillumbah Street will be used to transport equipment, such as excavators, pipes and trucks to the construction site. Murwillumbah Street will also serve as a temporary haulage route for occasionally bringing materials in and out of the construction site.
Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said:
“This project is an excellent example of how government funding can support communities in undertaking necessary steps to improve flood protection following the devastating 2022 flood events.
“The NRRRP is delivering real projects in the Tweed which are local priorities and will ensure communities like Murwillumbah are in a better position to recover from future severe weather events.
“I am very pleased to see construction is now underway with funding support from the NRRRP on this vital stormwater pump, which will boost flood resilience.
“The Albanese Government is committed to helping the Northern Rivers on the road to recovery and ensure we are all better prepared for future events.”
Parliamentary Secretary of Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said:
“This will make a big difference to the lives and livelihoods of people living and working in Murwillumbah.
“It represents real action on mitigation measures, so communities are better prepared and able to recover from the devastating impacts of floods.
“It demonstrates a willingness from all levels of government to get on with the job of increasing community resilience to future disasters.”
Tweed Shire Council Mayor, Chris Cherry said:
“This stormwater pump station was a vital component of Council’s flood mitigation strategy for Murwillumbah and aims to reduce the impact of stormwater flooding in the area.
“The pump station will not eliminate all flooding but it will reduce the frequency and magnitude of nuisance flooding due to storm events. While we can’t stop flooding from occurring, the pumps will significantly improve drainage of the area following a rain event, helping to reduce the impact of flooding on local residents and Brothers Leagues Club in the future.
“Thanks to the generous support of NEMA, NSW RA and DCCEEW, this project represents a significant step towards strengthening our community’s resilience to flooding.”
Murwillumbah Leagues Club Chairman Clint O’Keefe said:
“Flooding has long been a problem for us at Murwillumbah (Brothers) Leagues Club and we are excited to see work start on building this new pump station.
“Brothers is such an intrinsic part of the fabric of Murwillumbah life – not only on match days but also as a centre for social gatherings – and this pump station means we will be able to get back to normal operations a lot quicker after a big rain event.”
ON SITE: From left, Murwillumbah Brothers Rugby League Club general manager Dave Orr, Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry, Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, Murwillumbah Brothers Rugby League Club board member Glenn Weaver and Assistant Minister for Social Services, Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Richmond MP Justine Elliot at the Dorothy Street flood pump upgrade.
