Coffs Harbour Bypass Team Invites Community Feedback

The Coffs Harbour Bypass team is once again reaching out to residents, seeking feedback on their community engagement efforts and suggestions for improvement.

Twice a year, the team surveys the community to assess the quality of information, engagement processes, and communication practices. Following feedback from the May 2024 survey, several initiatives were introduced to enhance the project’s accessibility and transparency.

Transport for NSW Regional Director North, Anna Zycki, highlighted the team’s commitment to incorporating community input:

Digital Planning Portal: An innovative tool (soon to be launched) to communicate temporary construction details and final traffic access arrangements.
Online Webinars: Introduced to provide direct access to the project team, explain bypass construction, and update residents on progress.
Take-Home Map: A comprehensive project alignment map featuring design changes, shared paths, and noise walls.
Improved Complaints Management: A refined approach to addressing and resolving community concerns.

“The community provided practical and achievable ideas, and we’re pleased to have implemented many of them,” said Ms. Zycki.
“We now want to hear if further changes are needed to improve our engagement and ensure the best outcomes for the community.”

The current survey is open until midnight, Sunday 1 December, and feedback should focus on the period between July and November 2024.

How to Provide Feedback

Share your views by completing the survey at Coffs Bypass Survey.

For more information about the Coffs Harbour Bypass Project, visit Coffs Harbour Bypass Project.

This project is built for the community, and your input is invaluable in shaping its success.

Terranora Creek Foreshore upgrade planned for early 2025

By Robert Heyward

The foreshore of Terranora Creek, adjacent to Wyuna Road in Tweed Heads West, is set to undergo a $400,000 upgrade in early 2025, enhancing community access and improving the area’s safety and appearance.

Project Overview

Thanks to $400,000 in grant funding from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Program, this project aims to boost community wellbeing by upgrading critical social infrastructure. The work will focus on rehabilitating parkland accessed via Blue Waters Crescent, located west of the M1 bridge.

Planned Improvements

The upgrade will include:

• Removal of Unsafe Structures: Broken and degraded foreshore structures, many built without Council approval, will be removed and disposed of offsite to enhance safety and aesthetics.
• Erosion Control: Rock walls will be installed where necessary to prevent foreshore erosion.
• Improved Access: Two new stairs/ramps will be built, providing safer and easier access to the creek for the community.

Project Benefits

Tom Alletson, Council’s Team Leader for Coast and Waterways, emphasised the importance of the upgrade:
“This project will improve access to the creek and remove dilapidated structures that are both unsafe and unsightly. While construction will temporarily limit access to the park, the final result will be a rejuvenated foreshore for residents and visitors to enjoy,” he said.

Community Engagement

Consultation with residents along Wyuna Road has already begun to ensure a smooth project rollout. Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2025 and is expected to take approximately four weeks.

Get Involved

For further details about the project and to view site plans, visit here.

This restoration project highlights Council’s commitment to preserving and enhancing the Tweed’s natural environment, ensuring future generations can continue to enjoy the region’s waterways.

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Resilient Lismore Reports Highlight Continued Recovery Needs in Northern Rivers Community

By Jeff Gibbs

Resilient Lismore has published two vital reports underscoring the ongoing need for community disaster recovery support in the Northern Rivers. The findings reveal both the unmet needs of flood-affected residents and the positive impact of Resilient Lismore’s Repair to Return property repair initiative.

In a statement, Resilient Lismore Executive Director Elly Bird explained, “These reports provide valuable insight into how people in the Northern Rivers are faring more than two and a half years after the disaster.”

The Lismore Flood Zone Survey and Outreach Report is the result of a comprehensive outreach effort led by Resilient Lismore in July 2024. Supported by Social Futures, Uniting Recovery Support Services, Lismore City Council, the Red Cross, and Lismore Business Chaplains, the survey involved door-to-door visits across Lismore’s flood zones. Surveyors assessed residents’ recovery progress, repair needs, and preparedness for future events.

Key findings from the survey reveal that more than 2,000 residents in over 1,000 households have not fully recovered from the 2022 flood and remain vulnerable to future disasters.

“This report highlights the gaps in recovery support, especially for households that fall outside the reach of existing programs,” said Ms. Bird. “Many residents are facing additional challenges, such as financial strain or disabilities, which complicate their recovery efforts.”

Social Impact Report: Demonstrated Benefits of Community-Led Disaster Recovery

In partnership with Huber Social, an independent social impact evaluation specialist, Resilient Lismore has also released its Social Impact Report. This report evaluates the outcomes of the Repair to Return project, as well as its impact on volunteers and workshop participants. Since early 2023, Huber Social has conducted rigorous assessments of the program’s effects on participants’ wellbeing.

Ms. Bird noted, “This report confirms what we already knew—that our programs do more than repair homes; they improve the wellbeing of those we support. There are measurable improvements in participants’ feelings of hope, community connection, and even sleep quality.”

While the findings are encouraging, Ms. Bird cautioned that overall wellbeing among respondents is still lower than the national average, highlighting the need for continued support for Northern Rivers communities.

The Repair to Return project, funded by the NSW Reconstruction Authority with contributions from the Lismore Diocese and Goonellabah Rotary, underscores the value of a community-led, place-based approach to disaster recovery.

To read the full reports, visit:

• Lismore Flood Zone Survey and Outreach Report
• Social Impact Report

These reports serve as a testament to the resilience of the Northern Rivers community and the ongoing work needed to ensure sustainable recovery.

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