Construction of Vital Stormwater Pump Station Commences in Murwillumbah

In a significant step towards enhancing flood mitigation in Murwillumbah, construction has begun on a new stormwater pump station situated behind the levee at Murwillumbah (Brothers) Leagues Club. This $1.626 million project is a collaborative effort between Tweed Shire Council, 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 a key component of several initiatives being implemented in the Tweed Local Government Area under the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP). This program, funded by the Australian Government, allocates $150 million for flood mitigation and resilience projects across the Northern Rivers region, severely affected by flooding in February and March 2022.

The NRRRP aims to foster long-term resilience, ensuring communities are better equipped to withstand and recover from future disasters. Construction on the pump station began in early May and is expected to take approximately three months to complete, weather permitting. During this period, the levee wall and the dirt track behind the Brothers clubhouse will be inaccessible to the public.

The project includes the installation of two new pumps, each standing approximately two meters tall, capable of moving nearly 1,000 litres of stormwater per second at full speed.

Under the NRRRP, $6.67 million has been allocated for several additional projects, supplemented by $2 million from the RA. These projects include:

• Wharf Street pump station upgrade
• Lavender Creek pump station upgrade
• New pump system within the East Murwillumbah levee
• Detailed evacuation procedures
• Alma Street modification
• Earthworks across Lot 4 on Quarry Road and modification of Condong Creek

Construction activities began on May 9, 2024, with work scheduled from Monday to Friday between 7 am and 6 pm, and occasional Saturday operations from 7 am to 1 pm. Safety measures include site fencing around the construction area and the temporary closure of the levee wall and dirt track behind Brothers Leagues Club. Equipment transport will occasionally utilize the park gate at the end of Murwillumbah Street, which will also serve as a temporary haulage route.

State Member for Lismore and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin MP with, from left, Murwillumbah (Brothers) Leagues Club representative Dave Orr, Tweed Shire Mayor Cr Chris Cherry, Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot MP and Brothers’ Glenn Weaver inspecting construction of the new pump station.

Community and Government Leaders Speak on the Project

Justine Elliot, Member for Richmond: “This project exemplifies how government funding can support communities in taking necessary steps to improve flood protection following the devastating 2022 flood events. The NRRRP is delivering real projects in Tweed, ensuring communities like Murwillumbah are better positioned to recover from future severe weather events. I am very pleased to see construction 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 ensuring we are all better prepared for future events.”

Janelle Saffin, Parliamentary Secretary of Disaster Recovery: “This will make a significant 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.”

Chris Cherry, Mayor of Tweed Shire Council: “This stormwater pump station is 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.”

Clint O’Keefe, Chairman of Murwillumbah Leagues Club: “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 an intrinsic part of Murwillumbah life – not only on match days but also as a centre for social gatherings. This pump station means we will be able to resume normal operations much quicker after a major rain event.”

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