The Woodburn-Casino Road (MR145) is a critical transport link for the Richmond Valley, connecting essential freight routes, supporting the visitor economy and preserving community connections between Casino and the Mid-Richmond.
Council was successful in receiving $10 million from the NSW Government to be programmed over three years to upgrade the Coraki to Woodburn section of MR145 ($1m in 2020/2021, $2m in 2021/2022 and $7m in 2022/2023). Council has now delivered this program of works, with details of each section shown on the map below.
10
Council adopted a different construction method for the works, changing to an unbound pavement to ensure the upgraded road would be more resilient. Areas where the pavement failures needed full pavement replacement, including subgrade replacement, were identified. The existing pavement was then rehabilitated to a conforming subbase before placing an unbound base course layer conforming with all relevant Transport for NSW requirements. Drainage, including aggregate drainage, was installed where upgrading was required during construction.
Council worked with local contractors to complete the Dairy Flat and Thearles Canal areas, which are expected to be completed in mid-2024.
Dairy Flat
Council received $4.2 million of funding through the Australian Government’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP) 2022-23, jointly administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority to improve the road along with design and construct a suitable culvert on Woodburn-Coraki Road to eliminate the significant dip located at Dairy Flat. The embankment failure on the road was stabilised to prevent further cracking. The construction of this culvert has improved the flood resilience of this vital transport link, allowing a longer timeline for the road to remain open during a flood event for evacuations to take place and also allowing the road to be reopened sooner after major flooding events.
Thearles Canal
Council received a further $1.4 million through the Australian Government’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP) 2022-23, jointly administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority to upgrade the existing Thearles Canal culvert on Woodburn-Coraki Road. The capacity of this culvert was increased, aiming to improve the flood resilience of this vital transport link and the neighbouring properties. Consequently, reducing the risk of water overtopping the road and inundating neighbouring properties.
Tatham Bridges
The Tatham Bridges are a set of bridges located on the Casino to Woodburn Regional Road (MR145). The route is key to freight, tourism, and agriculture, such as sugar cane and livestock, and is the link between the Casino and eastern localities of the Richmond Valley.
Deep Creek and Spring Gully (Tatham Twin Bridges) bridges on Casino-Coraki Road over Shannon Brook and Spring Creek, respectively, are Doolan Deck-type bridges (timber girders composite with a concrete deck). Richmond Valley Council engaged Bridge Knowledge to provide detailed design for the replacement of these bridges due to evidence-based concerns over the remaining serviceable life. The detailed design for two new bridges and associated roadworks has been completed and funded by Council.
Council has received $18 million of funding through the Australian Government’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022-23, jointly administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority to raise the level of the two bridges at Tatham (between Casino and Coraki).
The works are being delivered by Quickway Construction Pty Ltd, who commenced on-site in December 2024. The new bridges are being constructed on a new alignment and at higher levels, increasing the road’s flood resilience, improving access during larger flood events, and providing a safer evacuation pathway from Coraki to Casino. The bridges form part of a critical connection between the Summerland Way and Pacific Highway and transport links to Southeast Queensland.
As of May 2025, progress on the new Spring Gully Bridge is well underway. The installation of piling pads and 21 piles across both abutments and the centre pier has been completed. The next phase will involve formwork, steel reinforcement, and concrete works, with final utility relocations scheduled before piling work begins on the new Deep Creek Bridge.
Completion is currently expected in the first quarter of 2026, subject to weather and site conditions.