After years of landslips, floods, and closures, the battered Armidale to Kempsey Road is a step closer to being rebuilt, with a builder now locked in for the biggest disaster recovery road job NSW has ever seen.
Armidale Regional Council has awarded the major contract for the $319 million reconstruction to Bielby Holdings Pty Ltd, following a competitive tender.
The company will restore the stretch between Big Hill and Blackbird Flat, which has been hammered by landslips and natural disasters since the 2019 bushfires and the floods that followed.
“Communities along the Northern Tablelands and Mid North Coast rely on the Kempsey-Armidale Road every day,” said Minister for Recovery and the North Coast Janelle Saffin.
“Restoring this essential link is about bringing certainty back to the region-supporting local families, boosting businesses, and ensuring everyone has safe, reliable access to services and, most importantly, to each other.”
The job covers 43 kilometres of the Kempsey-Armidale Road and a five-kilometre section of Lower Creek Road.
It is the largest Essential Public Asset Restoration project ever undertaken in NSW, jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Site mobilisation and early works are due to start in the coming months, with major construction to begin in 2027. At its peak, the project will create more than 220 local jobs, and it is due to be finished in late 2029.
“After the 2019 bushfires and subsequent flooding in 2020 and 2022, the scale of damage to the Kempsey – Armidale Road corridor was massive,” said Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison.
“Under the Liberals and Nationals, recovery of the natural disaster damage on the corridor was stalled.”
The NSW Reconstruction Authority and Transport for NSW worked with Armidale Regional Council through planning and procurement.
“This is the largest infrastructure project being delivered by a local council, and its importance to our community and the regional economy cannot be overstated,” said Armidale Regional Council Mayor Sam Coupland.
“Council appreciates the patience and ongoing engagement of residents and businesses throughout what has been a long and challenging recovery process.”
“We look forward to working with Bielby to deliver this major project and restore a critical connection for our region.”
The work will take on some of the toughest country in the state.
“This is one of the most significant disaster reconstruction projects underway in NSW, involving complex engineering and construction works across some of the state’s most challenging terrain,” said NSW Reconstruction Authority Executive Director Reconstruction Graham Kennett.
“The appointment of the contractor is a major milestone, allowing us to progress detailed design and prepare for construction of the largest section of the road.”
“The NSW Reconstruction Authority will continue to work closely with Armidale Regional Council and the contractor to support delivery of this critical infrastructure and ensure the road is rebuilt to better withstand future natural hazards.”
The announcement follows $4.6 billion in funding for asset restoration and emergency works across NSW after natural disasters. In the last financial year, the NSW Reconstruction Authority delivered $625 million directly to local communities.
For locals who have waited years, the end is finally in sight.
“A fully restored Kempsey-Armidale Road will improve access for local communities, support agriculture and business, and open up a beautiful part of our region to greater tourism and economic opportunities,” Mayor Coupland said.
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