Richmond Valley Council is considering two options associated with the ongoing maintenance of Boundary Creek Road as follows:
Option 1: Reconstruct and reseal
This option involves fully reconstructing and resealing 1.5 kilometres of Boundary Creek Road through complete pavement rehabilitation, including subgrade improvement, drainage upgrades, and the application of a new bitumen seal.
The estimated cost of this work is approximately $1.8 million, and it is not in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan or capital program.
While this option would restore a sealed, all-weather access road and improve amenity for residents, Council considers that the investment would represent a high capital cost when considered against the very low traffic volumes and the limited strategic value of this section compared to other, more heavily used roads within the local government area.
Traffic counts undertaken since the closure of public beach access in March 2021 show a marked reduction in daily vehicle movements, with overall traffic volumes remaining low (44 annual average traffic vehicles per day including 33.2% heavy vehicles).
Option 2: Formally reclassify Boundary Creek Road as unsealed road
This option proposes formally reclassifying Boundary Creek Road as an unsealed road. As sealed sections deteriorate to a point where they are no longer providing adequate service, works would be undertaken to reinstate the entire length of the road as an unsealed surface.
This option would involve updating asset registers and service levels, so the section is managed as an unsealed rural access road. Under this approach, the section would be designated a Class C Road under Council’s Unsealed Rural Roads Hierarchy and would receive programmed maintenance every two years.
Ongoing maintenance would focus on periodic grading, drainage management and surface renewal as required to ensure safe access for residents and agricultural operations.
Council considers that the reclassification would align the road’s hierarchy framework with actual usage and condition, reduce long-term renewal liabilities and allow Council to maintain the road more efficiently.
It would also enable Council to maintain it to a more consistent and trafficable standard, as the existing degraded bitumen seal provides little structural protection and makes repairs more difficult and costly than maintaining a gravel surface.
Whilst some residents may oppose the loss of a sealed surface, Council considers there is no adverse asset impacts associated with formalising the road as unsealed. By formally reclassifying the section as unsealed, Council may manage it more effectively and consistently without causing any negative long-term impacts on the road structure.
Submission/s are invited (please include relevant Reference) during the submission period:
Submissions Open: Tuesday, 7 June 2026
Submissions Close: Tuesday, 1 September 2026
Address: Boundary Creek Road, Broadwater
Submissions – Any person may make a written submission during the exhibition period by sending it to Richmond Valley Council by:
* Post to: – Locked Bag 10 Casino NSW 2470
* Email: – council@richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au
* Hand delivery: – at either of Council’s Customer Service Centres in Casino and Evans Head.
If Richmond Valley Council does not receive a reply within the exhibition period, it will assume that you concur and have no objections to the proposal.
Please advise Richmond Valley Council within the exhibition period if you require additional time to consider your position.
Once the submission period is completed, Richmond Valley Council will consider all duly made submissions and decide on road reclassification suitability.
If you have any further enquiries regarding this matter, please contact Richmond Valley Council.
