Get ready Mullumbimby – road improvements coming soon

Published on 16 October 2021

More than $1.7 million will be spent upgrading many of Mullumbimby’s worst roads and a section of Koonyum Range Road early next year (2022), thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads program and a $400,000 investment from Byron Shire Council and Koonyum residents.

Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, and Ben Franklin MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and the Arts made the announcement today (16 October) with 17 roads and laneways to be resealed and a section of Koonyum Range Road sealed.

Local Member of the Legislative Council Ben Franklin said it was brilliant that work would soon begin on repairing Koonyum Range Road and many local roads in Mullumbimby.

“Byron Shire Council has fought hard for this funding, and I am thrilled to join Mayor Michael Lyon to announce $1.3 million from the NSW Government,” Mr Franklin said.

“I know that the cost burden of maintaining roads is significant for Council and this funding will help maintain and repair roads that matter to local community,” he said.

“This project is going to make a huge difference to the everyday lives of Mullumbimby residents who for years have been dodging potholes as part of their daily commute,” Mayor Lyon said.

“Unfortunately, Council has never had the money to fix these roads properly, so we have only been able to do basic repairs and as we all know that as soon as it rains the potholes reappear and people understandably get very frustrated.

“On behalf of Council, we are extremely grateful for this investment from the NSW Government which will have a profound impact on the daily lives of our residents making it easier for all of us to get to work, school, ride a bike or even just go for a walk,” Mayor Lyon said.

Approximately 2.75km of Koonyum Range Road will be sealed in 2022 with Koonyum residents contributing more than $50,000 towards the $500,000 project.

Sealing the gravel road will make it safer and less dusty for residents and wildlife and improve access for emergency services such as the SES and RFS.

“The NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads programs is all about supporting projects that make a big difference to local people – whether that be trips to the shops or safer journeys for emergency services,” Mr Franklin said.

The Mullumbimby roads to be resealed are:

While exact dates are being finalised it is expected the work will be finished by May 2022.

For media enquiries contact Michael Lyon, Byron Shire Mayor, on 0435 646 365.