About the Mundowy Lane raising project
Mundowy Lane is an important arterial road crossing Beavers Creek and the Murrumbidgee River, near the township of Collingullie. The road is owned and maintained by Wagga Wagga City Council.
In addition to being a constraint to river flows, the road has been inundated on several occasions over recent years by flows from the Murrumbidgee River system.
Flows of 35,000 ML/day (5.51 m) at Wagga Wagga see water beginning to cross over the southern section of the road, requiring traffic control and reducing traffic to a single lane. At 44,000 ML/day (6.44 m) at Wagga Wagga, the road is closed causing detours of up to 50 km for local traffic.
This negatively impacts the communities relying on the road to get to work, get their kids to school and manage their business/farming operations.
Upgrading this section of road will protect against high river flows and provide substantial benefit to the local community, due to less disruption.
Due to the social, economic and environmental importance of the road, it is being prioritised for upgrade, separate to the wider Reconnecting River Country Program, by December 2026.
Project scope
The southern section of Mundowy Lane will be upgraded to a level preventing inundation during flows up to 45,000 ML/day at Wagga Wagga.
New culverts will be placed under the roadway, with minor raising over 2 sections of approximately 400 m in length. This will allow the passage of higher flows through the culverts, reducing the risk of damage to the road and mitigating impacts to adjacent properties.
Works to ensure access to properties during flows up to 45,000 ML/day will also be provided.
The project is fully funded by the Australian Government for delivery by December 2026.
Project benefits
The benefits of the project will include:
- improved vehicle access and road safety during high flows
- less overtopping of the road, resulting in less disruption to local communities
- eliminating the need for traffic control and lane closure with flows up to 45,000 ML/day
- less servicing and maintenance of the road and road verges.
Project activities
The department’s Water Group will lead the delivery of the project with the involvement of local council staff.
Specific activities include:
- working closely with Wagga Wagga City Council
- developing and tendering work packages for the concept design, modelling and geotechnical investigations
- undertaking a road safety audit
- undertaking geotechnical investigations
- conducting topographical and property boundary surveys
- reviewing environmental factors, including conducting biodiversity and cultural heritage assessments
- completing detailed designs and procuring a construction contractor
- constructing the new infrastructure, commissioning and handing over to the asset owner
- engaging with stakeholders and working with landholders where land may need to be accessed for temporary construction works, if required.
Stakeholder and community engagement
The Water Group is committed to building and maintaining respectful, trusted and collaborative relationships with our communities and stakeholders to ensure water infrastructure projects achieve the best possible outcomes.
We will provide opportunities for our local communities and stakeholders to have their say on the project throughout its stages of development and delivery.
These engagements will be highlighted on the project webpage and on the Water Group’s stakeholder engagement webpage.
Contact us
For more information call us on 1300 081 047 or email us at water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au