Richmond Valley: Coraki and Woodburn drains cleared to move floodwater out faster

Residents in the Richmond Valley who copped the brunt of the 2022 floods can breathe a little lighter after Rous County Council took a positive step forward in mitigating damage across the region.

Mechanical clearing in Coraki. Picture: Rous Water

Residents in the Richmond Valley who copped the brunt of the 2022 floods can breathe a little lighter after Rous County Council completed essential drainage works in the region.

Works in Coraki and Woodburn will enhance the drain’s flow and function and allow for a quicker recovery after flood events.

Coraki and Woodburn have ‘town drains’ which are one of the main pathways that floodwaters drain from the villages. These drains do not prevent flooding but rather reduce the length of time of inundation.

Bali Bombing survivor Hanabeth Luke in a tinnie with skipper Kira Hartland in Woodburn in NSW’s Northern Rivers during the floods in early 2022. Picture: Supplied.

One of 36 projects being delivered under the $150 million Australian Government’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which aims to drive long-term resilience and ensure communities are better equipped to withstand and recover from future disasters.

The systems were mechanically cleaned using an excavator, removing vegetation and silt from the drains and debris from previous flood events.

Woody weeds, including Coral Trees and Camphor Laurels, have also been removed from the banks to provide a clearer channel for greater flow.

Woodburn town drain before and after improvements. Picture: Rous Water

Robert Mustow, Chair for Rous County Council, and re-elected Mayor of Richmond Valley said both villages “bore the brunt” of the catastrophic 2022 floods.

“It’s great to see this investment in these local drainage systems,” Mr Mustow said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said clearing the drainage systems in the villages of Coraki and Woodburn would help build resilience for a future flood event.

“This is a really practical example of a project that will positively impact these communities and lead to less flood inundation time following floods,” she said.

“It is also a positive example of three layers of government working together to implement flood mitigation measures following the floods of 2022.”

A section of Coraki Town Drain, close to the Coraki temporary housing village, showing the improvements made to the system.

Chrisy Clay, Flood Mitigation Manager for Rous County Council, said the improvements are part of a “highly valued” network that includes 190km of drains and canals.

Rous County Council (RCC) is a multipurpose county council delivering bulk water, weed biosecurity and flood mitigation services to the Northern Rivers of NSW. RCC’s constituent councils are Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley.

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