Major repairs are being planned for Tamworth’s CBD flood protection system after inspections uncovered damage to ageing stormwater infrastructure beneath the Peel River levee.
Tamworth Regional Council has identified several deteriorating stormwater outlets between Bligh and Murray streets, with some requiring complete reconstruction.
The damage was discovered following more detailed investigations prompted by an incomplete floodgate closure in 2025.
Council’s manager of transport operations, Murray Russell, said the inspections had revealed problems that previous assessment methods had not detected.
“The safety of our community is Council’s highest priority, and these inspections have enabled us to identify issues that were not known through our previous visual inspection methods,” Russell said.
“While the findings mean significant work will be required, it’s important for residents and businesses to know that we have identified these issues and have plans in place to address them.”
Council is preparing a staged repair program, with initial works to focus on relining and maintaining outlets that remain structurally sound enough to be restored.
More severely damaged sections will require reconstruction, with detailed designs to be completed ahead of a construction tender in 2027.
In the meantime, council has developed a contingency plan to provide additional protection to the CBD in the event of major flooding before permanent repairs are completed.
The measures will be supported by ongoing inspections and maintenance of the levee system.
The Peel River levee has protected Tamworth’s CBD for decades, with its original construction dating back to the 1930s.
Many of the affected stormwater outlets were installed during the 1960s and 1970s, before the levee was raised in 1996.
Council said any additional infrastructure requiring replacement would be included in future maintenance programs and funded through its asset renewal fund.
Residents and businesses can find more information at tamworth.nsw.gov.au/CBDlevee.
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