Lismore City Council has marked another flood recovery milestone with completion of works on Simes Bridge, restoring a vital connection for the Whian Whian community.
What began as an emergency repair in the aftermath of the 2022 floods has now become a permanent, long-term solution, with the restoration of Simes Bridge on Whian Whian Road officially complete.
Delivered through a collaborative effort between Lismore City Council’s Flood Restoration Portfolio and specialist contractor MJ Smith Group, the $3.6 million project involved far more than a traditional bridge repair.
Crews undertook extensive reconstruction of the flood-damaged western support structure – installing new concrete foundations, rebuilding the permanent abutment, and enhancing scour protection designed to improve the bridge’s resilience to future flood events.
While the engineering challenge was significant, ensuring the Whian Whian community remained connected throughout construction was equally important.
As the only road access for Whian Whian, Simes Bridge is a vital link relied upon every day by residents travelling to work, school and appointments, as well as visitors and emergency services. From the outset, maintaining that connection while construction was underway was a key priority.
To achieve this, an innovative staged construction approach was adopted. A temporary bridge structure was installed over the damaged western support, allowing vehicles to continue crossing while complex restoration works were carried out beneath and around the bridge.
Just two overnight closures were required to install and later remove the structure, helping to minimise disruption for the community.
Flood Restoration Portfolio Executive Director Charlotte Foy said the project’s completion highlights both the scale of the recovery effort and the commitment to keeping communities connected while that work is delivered.
“This project shows the inventive approaches we’re using across the Flood Restoration Portfolio to restore critical infrastructure while minimising disruption wherever possible,” Foy said.
“Every site presents its own challenges, and, in this case, it wasn’t just about rebuilding infrastructure – it was about maintaining a vital connection for an entire community while that work took place. We’re proud to hand back a stronger bridge that will serve the community well into the future.”
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain says the reopening is “fantastic news for the Whian Whian community and another important milestone in the ongoing recovery from the devastating 2022 floods.”
“The Australian Government is committed to helping communities recover and rebuild stronger after disasters, which is why we are investing in infrastructure that not only restores critical connections but improves resilience for the future.”
The sentiment is shared by NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin, who says: “When critical infrastructure like Simes Bridge is inaccessible, the impacts are extensive, from isolating communities and disrupting businesses and day to day life, to impacting emergency services and delaying essential travel.
“The completion of Simes Bridge is a significant win for local safety, connection, and the long-term endurance of the Lismore community.”
This project was jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
