Ross Lane could soon stay open far more often, after councillors backed a long-awaited plan to raise the road and build a new bridge at Deadmans Creek.

For years, the once quiet rural laneway has become the busiest shortcut between Lennox Head and the M1.

Traffic has surged to more than 8,400 vehicles a day, and locals know the frustration too well: after heavy rain, Ross Lane often disappears under water for one to three days at a time.

The simple question “Is Ross Lane open?” became so common it even made it onto bumper stickers.

This week, councillors voted unanimously to approve a design to lift the road to a one-in-five-year flooding event — a height that modelling shows will significantly reduce closures without shifting flood impacts on upstream properties.

‘A fascinating balancing act’

During last Wednesday’s Finance and Facilities Committee meeting, Cr Phil Meehan said the 350-pages of technical reports was compelling reading.

“A really interesting balancing act between keeping the road open and not causing adverse flooding impacts on upstream properties to the north.”

He said the community often assumed Council could simply raise Ross Lane until it no longer flooded, but the modelling showed a hard limit before surrounding homes would be put at risk.

“There will be times when the road is still overflowed by water,” Cr Meehan said.

“But to try to raise it further will cause problems for people in other properties.  So it’s about getting that best tipping-point outcome.”

Cr Meehan noted staff had responded to concerns raised by nearby residents, most relating to detailed design matters still to come.

The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the recommended option.

What Council approved

The endorsed plan lifts Ross Lane’s peak to a height of 1.45m and installs a new 10-metre single span low-level bridge at Deadmans Creek.

This option was selected after extensive new flood modelling using Council’s 2023 flood study data, which included updated rainfall modelling and calibration against the 2022 floods and 2023 king tide.

Key findings included:

• Raising the road to the 20 per cent Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) level increases upstream peak flood levels by up to 0.09m, which modelling shows avoids above-floor impacts to nearby dwellings.
  • Raising the road higher — to the 10 per cent AEP level — would increase flood levels by up to 0.15m and place several homes within 0.3m of above-floor flooding.
  • A low-level bridge performs better than a high-level bridge in maintaining the road’s floodway function during major events, reducing risk to upstream properties.
  • Increasing the bridge opening beyond 10 metres produced no meaningful reduction in upstream flooding.

The report also confirmed that even with the upgrade, Ross Lane will still function as a floodway during large events such as one-in-20 or one-in-100 year floods. However, closures will become far less frequent.

A major local road link — and evacuation route

Ross Lane is classified as a regional road and serves as a key connector not only for Lennox Head, but also for hinterland communities including Tintenbar, Alstonville, Wollongbar and Lismore.

It is also an evacuation route and a detour option when traffic needs to be diverted from the Pacific Motorway.

Traffic is forecast to rise to 11,000 vehicles per day by 2036.

The upgrade has been backed by $3.9 million in Transport for NSW betterment funding, but cost estimates have since risen to between $4.4 million and $4.8 million. Council will need to cover the difference, with options including deferring other road projects, using internal reserves or loan funds.

The timeframe is tight as construction must be complete and the road reopened by March 2027 to meet grant deadlines.

What happens next

The decision will be ratified at council’s final meeting for 2025 tomorrow and the project will move to the detailed design stage, including consideration of alternative mid-level bridge options to improve construction practicality and lifespan — but only if modelling shows no added flood impacts.

The Mayor and General Manager have also been authorised to work with State agencies and Rous County Council on downstream drainage concerns, including:

• agricultural drain maintenance
  • impacts of the Ballina Nature Reserve
  • long-term management of Deadmans Creek and North Creek.

A Review of Environmental Factors will be placed on public exhibition next year.

In the meeting, Cr Meehan summed up the community benefit simply.

“The more that the road is open, the better it is for our local residents,” he said.  “Well done to everyone involved.”