Lavenders’ Bridge is a ten-span timber bridge built in 1993 that forms the critical link between Bellingen CBD via Bridge Street to Hammond Street, serving as the main route for residents, visitors, and emergency services.
Due to its low deck level, the bridge is frequently closed during flood events, averaging around 46 hours of closure per year. These closures significantly disrupt community access, local businesses, and emergency response capability.
To address this, Bellingen Shire Council has commenced the Lavenders Bridge Replacement Investigation and Design Project. As part of the project an assessment has been completed on the alignment options for the bridge replacement, which will inform the eventual detailed design of the new bridge.
The options study assesses a range of potential bridge replacement alignments and configurations, considering flood immunity, constructability, aesthetics, environmental impact, community outcomes, and cost parameters. Nine options were examined through a multi-criteria analysis using a pairwise weighting approach.
The assessment identified Option 2, Upstream 25 metres (Bridge Street to Hammond Street; temporary access via Ford Street) as the preferred alignment. This option achieved the highest overall score due to its strong balance of flood resilience, constructability, and minimal community disruption.
It would also enable the new bridge to be constructed offline while maintaining traffic across the existing structure for most of the works. The alignment integrates efficiently with existing high-ground approaches, offers significant improvement in flood immunity, and retains connectivity between the Bellingen CBD, residential areas, and riverside recreation spaces.
Appendix D Flood Impact Assessment:Lavenders Bridge Replacement Hydrological and Hydraulic Assessment
For more information on the project and to view frequently asked questions, please visit the project page
Submissions closed 26 August 2026.