Information for residents - Tropical Cyclone Alfred
If a Crown road in your area is affected and you no longer have safe access to your home or property, please contact Crown Lands on 1300 886 235.
You can also contact your local council to request assistance.
You will need to provide the following details:
- road name / location
- the extent of damage
- supporting evidence such as photos.
For assistance during floods and storms call the NSW SES on 132 500 or Triple Zero (000) for life threatening emergencies.
Information for councils - Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Crown Lands is here to support all councils with damage to Crown roads and ensure access is restored as quickly as possible.
We will seek assistance directly from other agencies on the ground to repair any roads we are notified about. If council has capacity to fix Crown roads, you will be reimbursed by the NSW Government for any related expenses.
Please reach out to Crown Lands for any advice and support on 1300 886 235.
Additional information on Crown roads
We encourage local councils to use NSW Government funding to repair damage to Crown roads after natural disasters.
There are NSW natural disaster arrangements guidelines available.
Funding for councils
If a Disaster Declaration is made by the NSW Government, an Australian Government Reference Number (AGRN) lists the LGAs it applies to. For those LGAs, funding is available to repair damaged Crown roads used by the community. This funding is specific to repairs required due to damage during natural disasters and will ensure that Crown roads which are used by the community to access private residences are repaired as soon as possible.
To access the funding, councils will need to work with their regional administering agency. Please contact Transport for NSW and/or Public Works Advisory as soon as possible to provide notification of the scope of emergency works. There is further information in the Guidelines.
What is Crown Lands’ role?
While we cannot access the funding ourselves, we will help councils get access to funding under the guidelines. We support councils by simplifying Crown Lands’ processes for any works needed.
Consent for emergency works
General consent under the Roads Act 1993 is provided on the basis that works will be done in Crown road corridors to treat, conserve and restore pre-existing conditions to a level that reinstates access.
As part of this consent, the location and details of works are to be provided in writing to Crown Lands when completed.
Any works to structures are not included in the blanket approval and will to need to be applied for by the standard Crown Lands approval process.
Resourcing implications
Under the guidelines, local councils are responsible for arranging quotes, engaging contractors, and preparing funding claims. If councils don’t have the resources to do the emergency works, they should contact Transport for NSW and Public Works Advisory.
Resource sharing may be available via the Office of Local Government’s Local Government Emergency Recovery Support Group.
Responsibility for maintenance after emergency works
Ongoing responsibility and maintenance of repairs made to Crown roads remains as per existing agreements with Crown Lands. The emergency arrangement does not alter any existing agreement.
Ongoing responsibilities will not devolve to councils because of works done due to a natural disaster. If the Crown road was eligible for transfer prior to the disaster repair works, it may still be eligible for transfer at a future date. This will need to be discussed with Crown Lands.