Tweed council’s plans to rescue Tyalgum village post-flood

Picturesque Tyalgum village will soon be back on the tourist trail as Tweed Shire Council looks to fast-track works to reopen the town. See what’s planned.

For Zara Sims, it takes 45 to 70 minutes depending on the roadworks to get to school. Before the flood it used to take 12 minutes.

A Tweed Shire tourist hotspot left high and dry by a massive landslip is set to come roaring back into life in the New Year.

Tyalgum village was sidelined by the record damage to Tyalgum Rd in the 2022 floods.

But help is on its way as Tweed Shire Council voted to award a $6 million tender to SEE Civil Pty Ltd to repair Reserve Creek Rd at its extraordinary meeting on Thursday.

A contractor is yet to be announced for the repair of Tyalgum Rd with documents revealing the value of the bids for this exceed Transport for NSW allocated funding.

Resident Brad Sims said the roadworks news had lifted the spirits of locals.

Negotiations on the Tyalgum Rd landslip are underway and will be completed early in 2023.

Council’s infrastructure delivery manager Tim Mackney said the complexity of the Tyalgum Rd landslip had been a huge challenge for contractors bidding for the work, and analysing the site had taken considerable time.

“The awarding of the Reserve Creek Rd tender and council’s approval to finalise the contract for Tyalgum Rd is very welcome and good news for local residents,” Mr Mackney said.

Businesses are expected to flourish once the road link to Tyalgum is repaired. Photo: Supplied

Resident and Discover Tyalgum owner Brad Sims said council had kept locals in the loop.

“It’s good news for Tyalgum … I’m very pleased for Tyalgum and Reserve Creek Rd,” Mr Sims said.

“It’s excellent that the council haven’t taken their foot off the accelerator, and things can get done over Christmas.”

Tyalgum recently celebrated the reopening of the pub. Photo: Supplied

Tyalgum recently celebrated the reopening of the pub.

“Closure of the pub turned us into a ghost town, the pub had a whacking opening,” Mr Sims said.

“The pub has a swimming pool - that has been gold for the kids.”

But the village isn’t out of the woods yet.

It takes 45 to 70 minutes depending on the roadworks for Mr Sims daughter Zara to get to school (pre-flood it used to take 12 minutes).

Tweed Shire Council is in negotiation with the bidders for the Tyalgum Rd landslip, with hopes that the job can be completed in early 2023.