[PILLAR ROCK CONSULTING]

Practical design for complex infrastructure

Civil design and project delivery for roads, drainage, and infrastructure upgrades across rural Australia.

[ABOUT US]

Practical infrastructure

design that delivers

We understand the constraints and design the solutions.

Understand the problem: Site constraints, budget, traffic, flood behaviour.

Develop constructible solutions: Design for buildability, staging, and cost.

Work with contractors and councils: Reduce risk before construction begins.

Support delivery: Design clarification and construction input.

[EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS]

ENGINEERING

SERVICES

ROADS & INTERSECTIONS

FLOOD & DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE

WATER / SEWER

BULK EARTHWORKS & HEAVY INDUSTRY

[OUR MISSION]

LARGE QUOTE OR MISSION STATEMENT HERE THAT GOES ON AND ON

AND SO FORTH

[TESTIMONIALS]

WHAT OUR CLIENTS

HAVE TO SAY

Shea consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, dedication, and a strong work ethic. Her performance was of an exceptional standard, often exceeding expectations. One of Shea’s standout qualities is her proactive approach to problem-solving—she not only identiﬁed potential issues early but also presented well-considered, practical solutions for review. Her combination of technical expertise, initiative, and collaborative approach means I have no hesitation in recommending Shea for future project opportunities and we would welcome the opportunity to work with her again at AECOM.

I have worked closely with Pillar Rock on several complex road and drainage projects, and Shea consistently shows a strong level of technical expertise and professionalism. Pillar Rock produces high-quality design plans that are logical and well laid out, and Shea is a good communicator who is proactive in keeping her clients informed.

Pillar Rock enabled us to integrate our infrastructure designs with the end-client Civil Design package with ease. I find Pillar Rock responsive and intuitive to work with when we need additional design experience brought to bear on a problem.

[OUR WORK]

OUR

PROJECTS

Yamba Road / Palmers Channel Southbank Intersection upgrade

[CIVIL, ROADS]

The Yamba Road and South Bank Road intersection upgrade is a major infrastructure project designed to improve flood resilience, road safety, and traffic efficiency along the key transport corridor between Maclean and Yamba.

The $10 million project involves the reconstruction and widening of a 900-metre section of Yamba Road to better accommodate high traffic volumes and reduce flood impacts.

The road is being raised by approximately one metre to improve flood immunity and widened from around eight metres to 12 metres, creating safer conditions for motorists, freight vehicles, and cyclists. Widened road shoulders have also been included to provide dedicated space for cyclists along the corridor.

The South Bank Road intersection is being upgraded with improved geometry, wider shoulders, and a dedicated right-turn lane to increase safety and improve vehicle movements at the intersection. The project also provides improved roadside stopping areas and safer access for local traffic.

Significant utility upgrades formed part of the enabling works for the project. Approximately 600 metres of new underground fibre optic and copper communications infrastructure was installed to support internet, landline, and mobile services. Electricity infrastructure was also relocated, including the installation of eight new power poles to accommodate the widened road corridor.

The project included replacement and relocation of approximately one kilometre of ageing water main infrastructure. New High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipework replaced the existing asbestos-concrete water main and was relocated further from the road corridor to reduce future maintenance and damage risks.

The Yamba Road South Bank Road intersection upgrade was delivered through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package (RRTRP), jointly funded under the Commonwealth and State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Yamba Road / Palmers Island Bypass

[CIVIL, ROADS]

The Palmers Island bypass project is a major road upgrade designed to improve safety, traffic flow, and connectivity along Yamba Road. The $10 million project will divert around 9,000 vehicles per day away from the existing route through.

Palmers Island village and the local school zone, reducing traffic impacts on residents and improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

Currently, Yamba Road passes directly through the village with a 60 km/h speed zone and a reduced 40 km/h school zone. During peak holiday periods, traffic volumes reach approximately 14,000 vehicles per day, creating congestion, frequent speed transitions, and increased safety risks for the local community.
The new 1-kilometre alignment will bypass the village centre and providing a smoother, more consistent route into Yamba. The project includes a larger channelised intersection at Palmers Island, consolidating access from Yamba Street and School Road while reducing the need for multiple speed zone changes along the corridor.

Wooli Road Uprade - Pillar Creek to Mahogany Drive

[CIVIL, ROADS]

The Wooli Road Ghost Gully upgrade is a major road infrastructure project focused on improving flood resilience, road safety, and long-term reliability along a key regional transport route.

The project involves raising approximately 1.5 kilometres of Wooli Road by around one metre to reduce the frequency and duration of flood-related closures.

The upgraded alignment is designed to improve access during severe weather events and strengthen the resilience of the road corridor for local residents, freight operators, and emergency services.

As part of the upgrade, the existing six-metre-wide road is being widened to approximately 10 metres to improve traffic safety and accommodate higher vehicle volumes. The project also includes larger horizontal curve radii to improve driver visibility and vehicle tracking through the corridor.

Additional safety improvements include the installation of roadside safety barriers, upgraded drainage infrastructure, and construction of a new bridge structure to improve flood conveyance and reduce overtopping during major rainfall events. The upgraded drainage and road design also aims to reduce sediment runoff onto the road surface, improving safety, reducing maintenance requirements, and limiting environmental impacts during heavy rainfall.

The project delivers improved road geometry, increased flood immunity, reduced sediment impacts, and safer travel conditions while supporting more reliable regional connectivity during extreme weather events.

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