Works starts on new Tweed Council depot

TWEED Shire Council has begun building its new flood-safe depot in South Murwillumbah, replacing the Buchanan Street site damaged in the 2017 and 2022 floods.

Located on Lundberg Drive at Industry Central, the purpose-built facility will support both field operations and office-based teams and include solar panels and EV charging stations.

The current depot houses 50 trucks, 60 operational vehicles and 30 pieces of large plant machinery. The new site is designed to protect that equipment from future flood damage and improve council’s emergency response capacity.

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry said ensuring the depot was flood-safe would allow council to better serve the community when it was needed most.

“I’m so pleased that the depot will be the first construction in this groundbreaking land swap development and that this program means that we can also support other local businesses to be safe from flood,” Cr Cherry said.

The $33 million project includes $10 million in funding from the Australian and NSW Governments through the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, with the remaining $23 million from council.

The depot is the first to begin construction under the council’s land swap program, which has allocated flood-free sites to five local businesses. Construction by other businesses is expected to begin soon.

The council acquired 14 hectares of suitably zoned land with $11.3 million in funding from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Council general manager Troy Green said the new precinct would build resilience in the local economy.

“This project is evidence that businesses can invest with confidence in the Tweed,” Mr Green said.

“It’s a strong sign that Council is looking at ways to adapt to the impact of climate change by providing flood-risk free, employment-generating land.”

NSW Minister for Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said the project showed how communities were rebuilding stronger after floods.

“A more resilient depot means the Council can keep on doing its job during flooding, and it saves ratepayers money too,” Ms Saffin said.

Construction is expected to finish by June 2026.