Deer Vale Road
About the Project
Deer Vale Road sustained significant landslip damage following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, impacting a large section between Prices Road and Deer Vale village. In response, Council has undertaken substantial short-term stabilisation works while progressing detailed investigations to inform a long-term, permanent solution. Thanks to the community’s ongoing cooperation and support, Council has now completed all immediate stabilisation measures and has moved into the next phase of design development and funding advocacy to secure full rehabilitation of the site.
Short-Term Works Completed
Since the Cyclone, Council delivered critical short-term works to stabilise the site and restore controlled access, including;
- Installation of monitoring equipment to track ground movement and groundwater conditions.
- Emergency repairs and construction of a temporary access platform.
- Subsurface drilling investigations to a depth of 10–29 metres.
- Installation of a piezometer to monitor subsurface water pressure.
Maintaining Access
Temporary access remains open with one-lane traffic management controls in place. The site will continue to be closely monitored during significant rainfall events to ensure public safety remains the priority. Establishment of ongoing safety measures, including:
- Traffic management and one-lane access with give-way controls.
- Removal of weight restrictions for vehicles (as of May 2025).
- Speed limits of 40km/h through the affected area.
- Wet weather monitoring with site closures triggered by rainfall thresholds.
Importantly, no further deterioration has occurred during recent heavy rain events, and the temporary access solution continues to perform as designed.
Current Stage: Design Development & Funding Advocacy
With short-term safety measures in place and subsurface investigations complete, the project has now entered its next phase:
- Laboratory analysis of drill samples informs detailed geotechnical models.
- Concept designs for long-term road rehabilitation are being developed.
- Monitoring data is being reviewed to refine design requirements.
This technical work will guide the engineering solutions required to fully stabilise and rebuild the affected section of Deer Vale Road.
Advocacy for Long-Term Funding
Council’s continued advocacy efforts to secure funding for the full rehabilitation of Deer Vale Road have been successful, with the State Government granting in-principle support. Final funding will be confirmed following the submission of completed designs and cost estimates based on the proposed solutions. Key advocacy actions to date include:
- A delegation led by Mayor Cr Steve Allan met directly with Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison MP in Sydney, alongside representatives from Coffs Harbour City Council, Gurmesh Singh MP, Pat Conaghan MP, and Michael Kemp MP.
- Ongoing engagement with senior government agencies, including the NSW Premier’s Department.
- Direct representation of the critical need for resilient transport networks to reduce disaster isolation risk for Deer Vale and surrounding communities.
Next Steps
- Finalisation of geotechnical analysis and design models
- Development of concept design options and costing for permanent repair.
- Securing approved funding under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
- Continued monitoring of the site’s stability and temporary access arrangements.
Council will continue to keep the community informed as new milestones are reached and funding outcomes are secured.
Community Engagement
The Deer Vale community has played a vital role in providing input to strengthen Council’s funding case. While the initial engagement period is complete, Council remains in contact with residents, businesses and service providers and will continue to provide opportunities for community input as the project advances into design and funding phases.
Location
Deervale Road, Deer Vale View Map
-30.3432002,152.5613613
Deervale Road ,
Deer Vale
Deervale Road ,
Deer Vale
Deer Vale Road