Raymond Terrace pump station upgrade backed by Disaster Ready Fund

newy.com.au – A $1.675 million upgrade to the Bourke Street flood pump station in Raymond Terrace will be delivered under a joint federal–local government project announced on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

The Raymond Terrace Flood Resilience and Mitigation Project has been funded through Round Three of the Albanese Government’s Disaster Ready Fund, with Port Stephens Council matching the federal contribution of $1.675 million to boost the town’s protection from increasingly frequent and intense severe weather events.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the works were part of a broader national effort to improve disaster resilience, with Round Three of the fund providing $200 million for 96 projects across Australia. The Disaster Ready Fund is delivering $1 billion over five years, and the latest round takes total investment to $600 million.

The project will be delivered by Port Stephens Council and involves upgrading the configuration and capacity of the Bourke Street flood pump station, which services low-lying parts of Raymond Terrace. The council expects the improvements to reduce stormwater inundation and flood impacts and strengthen the community’s overall flood immunity and resilience.

McBain said the government had created the fund in response to the regular impact of natural disasters on communities across the country. “Australians are no stranger to the floods, bushfires, and cyclones that impact them year-on-year – that’s why our government established the flagship Disaster Ready Fund, providing $1 billion over five years to projects such as this.”

She said the latest funding round represented a significant expansion of disaster preparedness work. “Crucially, Round Three brings our investment to make Australia more resilient through the DRF to $600 million – and I’d like to thank many of the project proponents for matching our funding.”

NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said the Raymond Terrace project was an example of how different levels of government could work together to support communities facing climate and weather-related risks. “We know first-hand how devastating floods, fires and storms can be. That’s why this funding is so important for local communities,” Saffin said.

“This project will help people in Raymond Terrace be better prepared, better connected and better supported when disasters occur,” she said. “The Disaster Ready Fund is a great example of governments working together to deliver tangible benefits for local people.”

Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson said residents of Raymond Terrace had experienced repeated flooding and understood the “emotional, financial, and physical toll” it can have. “This funding is a major step toward reducing that burden and ensuring residents feel safer and better protected,” Swanson said.

“This investment in the Bourke Street flood pump station is practical, targeted, and timely,” she said. “It will make a real difference on the ground by strengthening our local flood mitigation infrastructure and boosting our community’s resilience.”

Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson welcomed the federal support, saying it would allow the council to carry out “much needed upgrades” to the Raymond Terrace pump station. “The upgrade will reduce stormwater inundation and flood impacts helping to improve the communities flood immunity and resilience,” Anderson said.

Further information and a full list of Round Three projects are available on the Disaster Ready Fund website.