1 December, 2022
Abnormal rain events delay SDRC roadworks
Southern Downs Region Mayor Vic Pennisi has announced that Council’s normal Capital Works Program has been delayed by nine months, due to the necessity to carry out emergency repair work caused by the abnormal rain events that took place between November 2021 and May 2022.
Supported by additional contract resources, Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) has been working on flood disaster recovery since March 2020.
In addition to the normal Council works budget, more than $16 million has been spent on the flood repair program to date and a large portion of the works is now expected to reach completion by June 2024.
Due to the impact of the floods in the region a three month emergency works program is triggered with funding immediately applied to make the road network safe.
Due to back to back rain events since November 2021 the focus of works has been by necessity on emergency works to restore safe access across the road network where possible.
In the local area, SDRC’s current road work projects include bridge repairs at Kital Road, Berat and culvert replacements at Merivale Street, Allora and Talgai West Road, Talgai.
All three projects are currently in the design phase.
The damage to all three roads was caused by the floodwaters of Dalrymple Creek.
Many locals believe the effect of the floodwaters earlier this year was exacerbated by a levee bank that has allegedly been illegally constructed.
Following two different community meetings held a few weeks ago, SDRC is investigating the matter and seeking legal advice.
After the meetings were held on 8 November, SDRC hoped to make a decision on whether the levee bank would need to be removed or not within 30 days.
Mayor Pennisi said that like all businesses, Council has limited access to the resources necessary to undertake the road works including people, machinery and materials.
“We have focussed resources according to the priority of repairs in an endeavour to cover as much ground in the shortest period of time,” he said.
“But adding to this perfect storm is the fact that contractors are also facing overwhelming workloads and consequently Council’s access to additional contracted workforce is limited.
“Our officers are methodically working through this extraordinary work load and have prioritised repairs according to funding arrangements and resource availability.”
Mayor Pennisi said there are currently thousands of kilometres of road to repair, circa 300 culverts to replace or refurbish, hundreds of table drains to clean out and more potholes than ever experienced in our lifetime.
“The prediction is that these repairs will take somewhere in the vicinity of two years and that is on the basis that we do not get any further rain,” he said.
SDRC will be conducting a flood study covering Allora and surrounding areas, supported by Federal Government funding.
The progress of the works program can be followed here.
