Hawkesbury Nepean Valley flood areas to receive $33m bridge, road and drain upgrade

Critical evacuation and supply routes in Western Sydney cut off during major floods will be upgraded under a $33 million plan.

Critical evacuation and supply routes in Western Sydney cut off during major floods will be upgraded under a $33 million plan to identify the most urgent roads, bridges and drains in need of improvements.

About 100 new bridge structures, road widening and raising, traffic pinch points, drainage upgrades and other projects throughout the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley needed to protect the more than 140,000 people who live in the area will be identified under the multimillion-dollar study.

Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said the federal government was committed to the “safety and wellbeing” of residents in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, which had the “highest flood risk in NSW”.

People viewing the Nepean flooded river in 2021. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Penrith will be the focus of flood mitigation funding after the area experienced all-time high water levels in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“This jointly funded planning study is an important step towards developing a program of works that will help improve the resilience of the local road network and support an efficient evacuation in the event of flooding,” he said.

Lindsay MP Melissa McIntosh said she was pushing for the funding to be rolled out as “quickly as possible,” to protect the community still reeling from “damaging and dangerous” floods across the valley in 2021.

“So many families suffered damage to their homes, their properties, livestock and many were left with damaged homes or lost possessions. Our community needs this critical infrastructure to lessen the impact of future floods,” she said.

Flood waters on the Nepean River at Penrith in 2021. Picture: Toby Zerna

The majority of projects will be in the Penrith Local Government Area, with others in the Hawkesbury, Blacktown and The Hills Local Government Area.

Liberal candidate for Macquarie Sarah Richards said the disaster “came as a shock” to the community as there had not been a major flood for almost three decades.

“I know that just hearing about this comprehensive planning is making me feel better, so I’m sure that locals will welcome the fact that the Morrison Government has listened and that we will be better protected should flooding hit us again,” she said.

Local residents inspected mud that cakes the road leading down to the boat ramp after the waters receded in 2021. Picture: Toby Zerna

Macquarie is currently held by Labor MP Susan Templeman with just 0.2 per cent on two party preferred, and is one of several marginal seats in NSW earmarked by the Liberals as “must-win” to guarantee a majority Coalition government at the federal election later this year.

NSW Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward MLC said the state was working together with local councils and communities to manage risk and build flood resilience based on a strategy developed in 2017.

“This will help ensure that both local issues and the broader strategy are considered to achieve best outcomes,” she said.