[NEWS]
Tyalgum Road Downhill Run
Tweed Valley Weekly | 23 January 2025
By Jonathan Howard
The Tyalgum Road landslip recovery project is approaching the finish line, as the project proves to be one of the most challenging works in the Tweed Shire’s recent history, testing both the resilience of the contractors involved and the community’s patience.
In February 2022, catastrophic rainfall deluged across the shire, triggering a landslide along a 100-metre stretch of Tyalgum Road which left deep cracks and a temporary road closure.
This landslip severed Tyalgum from the rest of Tweed, disrupting businesses and residents alike.
However, after securing funding from the NSW Government’s flood recovery program, a single lane was reopened, providing some relief to the community.
Fast forward to 2025, and the massive $16 million recovery effort is nearing its completion, with SEE Civil awarded the contract by Tweed Shire Council in March 2023.
Despite the substantial progress, Senior Supervisor Greg Irvine from SEE Civil describes the conditions as “extremely challenging,” with the completion of the project now expected by late June, pending weather conditions.
Tweed Shire Council, alongside SEE Civil, recently invited The Weekly for a firsthand look at the ongoing work to better understand the scope and difficulties of the recovery efforts.
Site Engineer Luiza Castro and Senior Project Engineer Callum Hewitt also joined the tour to provide updates and answer questions.
The scale of the project is evident at the site, where workers contend with deep mud and constant pressures to keep a single lane open for traffic. With extreme weather continuing to complicate the work, it’s clear from the visit that this job remains one of Tweed’s most demanding construction sites.
Mr Irvine explained the severity of the situation, emphasising the team’s focus on maintaining high safety standards despite the daunting conditions.
“It’s been an incredibly tight and challenging job,” he said.
“But we’re through the toughest stages now. Once the underground works are finished, we’ll be on the downhill run.”
A key component of the recovery has been the installation of 130 piles, each driven 15 metres deep into the earth, with extra anchoring to ensure the road’s stability.
To date, 102-103piles have been successfully completed, with the remainder expected to be finished by early February, weather permitting.
The specialised machinery and expertise required for this task have been provided by RIX Specialist Contraction, a Sydney-based subcontractor living at Tweed Heads and working closely with SEE Civil on the piles.
Once the piles are in place, the next phase will involve anchoring them securely, which could take up to two months.
Earthworks and roadworks are already progressing in tandem with this phase, Mr Irvine said, and the team remains optimistic that the project will be finished by June, with two lanes fully operational. However, persistent rainfall has created significant challenges particularly during the earthworks phase.
“You can’t do roadworks in heavy rain or flash floods,” Mr Irvine explained.
“We’ve faced a year of intense weather, with record-breaking rainfall, and while there have been minor adjustments to the plan, we’ve avoided major delays.”
A spokesperson for Tweed Shire Council acknowledged the strong partnership with SEE Civil, noting their dedication and teamwork throughout the project.
“We’re on the downhill run to getting Tyalgum Road back to two lanes,” Mr Irvine said.
Ms Castro highlighted the project’s engineering resilience and wanted to reassure the community that the road once completed will be stable for the long term.
“The road will stay after this project,” she said.
Mr Castro commended the ongoing relationship between SEE Civil and the Tyalgum community, praising the residents for their patience and understanding as the work progresses.
“The community’s support has been incredible,” she said. “It’s been a true partnership from start to finish.”
As the Tyalgum Road landslip recovery nears completion, the project stands as a testament to both the strength of the local community and the perseverance of the workers overcoming one of the most difficult road restoration efforts in Tweed’s recent history.
Links:
- Tweed Valley Weekly, January 23, 2025 – Tweed Valley Weekly
- Restoration of Major Landslips – Tyalgum Road – SEE Group
- Projects Archive – SEE Group
- SEE Group Capability Statement – SEE Group
