NSW Govt invests $200m to upgrade Hawkesbury-Nepean flood roads

Over the next two years, the New South Wales Government will be developing and delivering major evacuation routes in the flood-prone Hawkesbury-Nepean region with a $200 million investment. 

Rapidly deploying this significant funding will get works going on the Pitt Town Bypass as well as commence enabling works on Garfield Road East at Riverstone and the Richmond Road-M7 to Townson Road upgrade. 

In addition, investigations at several locations along The Northern Road between Richmond Road, Richmond and Dunheved Road, Jordan Springs as well as Londonberry Road between Driftway, Richmond and The Northern Road, Cranebrook have been carried out under the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Evacuation Road Resilience Program. 

Improvement works to be delivered could include road shoulder widening, new drainage and bridge structures, road raising, pinch point upgrades and other drainage improvements. 

These works will help improve the road network, particularly at key low points, enabling residents to evacuate from the area safely in the event of a flood. 

“We made a commitment to Western Sydney to get flood mitigation right and this initial $200 million will help improve preparedness for the next flood or bushfire event. 

“We know the population has increased significantly in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley and it is essential we build the roads that cater for the size of the community in good times and bad. 

“We cannot pretend evacuations will not be a reality in the future whether it is in response to flood or fire. This funding will make sure roads are fit to help people get out and emergency services can get it in during times of crisis,” Minister for Roads John Graham said. 

The $200 million allocation from the 2023-24 Budget is part of a larger $550 million 10-year spend on Western Sydney flood roads resilience that include: 

• $100 million for Garfield Road East at Riverstone for widening and duplication works as a key evacuation route 
• $100 million on the Pitt Town Bypass 
• $285 million for Richmond Road between Townson Road and the M7 
• $15 million for The Driftway Roundabout at Londonberry 
• $50 million for Hill Road at Sydney Olympic Park to improve localised flooding 

Currently, Transport for NSW is developing the concept design and Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the improvement projects identified in the Flood Evacuation Road Resilience Program. 

Planning is already underway across all improvement areas with works including site investigations to help inform the concept design development and environmental assessment of identified improvements. 

Since late 2022, survey, utility, environmental and geotechnical investigations are being carried out and will continue until the end of 2024. In addition, Transport for NSW is also undertaking investigations in private properties and will contact property owners to arrange access. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW (1, 2)