Yamba Road at Palmers Channel will be upgraded to improve long-term flood immunity and make vital infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters.

The Federal and State Governments are providing Clarence Valley Council with $9.98 million to deliver the upgrade. 

Scheduled for completion in May 2026, weather permitting, the project is being delivered through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package (RRTRP) jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

As the main access from Yamba to the Pacific Motorway near Maclean, the upgrade is a key component of the Yamba Road Flood Resilience Strategic Plan to improve long-term flood immunity and make vital infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters.

During the severe flood event in February and March 2022, local businesses were either almost or completely out of supplies when Yamba Road was cut off for seven days.

Local authorities have been calling for improvements to its flood immunity to ensure sustainability for local economies during and following severe weather events.

Council is keen to get started with this work in the coming months, which will include the removal of a low spot in the road that causes it to be closed even during minor flooding.

The project will lift the level of Yamba Road by about one metre at Palmers Channel South Bank Road, to help reduce the frequency and duration of flood-related road closures.

Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, said, "The whole nation witnessed the flooding across the Northern Rivers region of NSW in 2022 and, in its aftermath, it was evident more needed to be done to ensure communities were better able to recover from similar events in future.

“The Albanese Government is proud to be part of the first stage of the Yamba Road upgrade, which will help reduce the impacts on the local community during and after floods.”

NSW Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison, said, “Clarence Valley Council provided clear reasoning for the improvement of Yamba Road, to reduce impact to SES and other agencies, so road access is maintained, and they can continue to respond to calls for help during emergencies.

“By raising the road embankment and providing widened and sealed shoulders, the road will be more resilient to water damage and will recover more quickly from future flooding.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin, said, “Ensuring Yamba Road recovers more quickly from inundation is vital for Yamba and surrounding communities to stay connected.

“We are building back better and creating more resilient communities for the future.”

Clarence Valley Mayor, Ray Smith, said, “Securing this funding marks a significant step forward in improving Yamba Road’s resilience to flooding.

"It's fantastic to see us pushing forward with the Yamba Road and Palmers Channel Southbank Road intersection upgrade, it is such a critical project for our area. 

“The upgrade is a key component of the Yamba Road Flood Resilience Strategic Plan, aimed at improving long-term flood immunity and strengthening the resilience of vital infrastructure."