There are a couple of towns that haven't had much media coverage since the 2022 big flood, Woodburn and Bungawalbin.

The 8km Bungawalbin earth levee protects about a dozen homes on the eastern side of Bungawalbin Creek and, in some instances, to Swan Bay and towards Rocky Mouth Creek, provides evacuation routes for many more and protects farming land from minor to moderate floods. Recent damage to the levee, notably from the flood events of 2017, 2021, and 2022, emphasised the levee's importance while prompting Rous and community concern.

Rous County Council applied for grants in March 2023 to make the levee more resilient, so the next time it overtops, there is confidence that it is going to hold and that it's performing the way it's expected to in terms of overflowing at a certain point and not eroding the levee.

Last week, sixteen months later, Rous County Council announced the approval of a grant totalling up to $6.9 million under the Natural Disaster Relief Assistance Program (NDRA) and State and Commonwealth Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

“This investment in Bungawalbin Levee comes after considerable effort from the community and Rous to highlight its importance. An independent assessment of the levee, funded by Rous, has paved the way for this significant investment. Bungawalbin Levee is highly valued by floodplain landowners and residents for the service it provides,” said Cr Robert Mustow, Rous Chair.

Rous County Council will collaborate with NSW Public Works to finalise the scope of the remediation works, ensuring optimal utilisation of the grant across the levee. This initiative follows successful repairs to the Tuckombil Levee, which protects Woodburn and surrounds from flooding from Tuckombil Canal and the Evans River, also funded through the NDRA and disaster recovery arrangements.

The Tuckombil Levee repairs were guided by specialised geotechnical advice on how to repair the levee and what material to use. The repair work was then independently inspected and assessed when completed. Emergency works were also recently completed on Bungawalbin Levee to repair a section of rock armouring that had slumped following the 2022 flood.

“The repair of Tuckombil Levee is an example of the work Rous does to manage and maintain its large network of historic, rural flood mitigation infrastructure. These levees are an important way of reducing the impact of floods on the mid-Richmond community by reducing inundation of valuable agricultural land, residential properties, evacuation roads and infrastructure. Rous looks forward to continuing this approach in utilising the significant investment now secured for Bungawalbin Levee,” said Cr Robert Mustow.

Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, also welcomed the $6.9 million to repair the Bungawalbin levee.

“I have advocated strongly for the levee repairs, so it is great to secure the funds under the Commonwealth Governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.” Mr Hogan said.

“The remediation of the Bungawalbin levee will reduce the height of future flooding and protect valuable agricultural land, residential properties, evacuation roads and infrastructure.” 

“The levee protects the Bungawalbin catchment from flooding, which includes Swan Bay, New Italy and Woodburn.”

“Damage to the levee, from the flood events of 2017, 2021, and 2022, meant there was serious community concerns the levee would not withstand even a minor flood.”

“Flood mitigation that reduces the height of future floods is the only strategy that will give our region a sustainable future and safety.”

“The path ahead for the broader Northern Rivers region must include a public commitment to flood mitigation. If the community knows a metre or more will be taken off future flood events, they will invest and live in confidence.”

Rous County Council looks forward to advancing protection and resilience for the mid-Richmond community against future flood events.