8 November, 2022
Flood repairs underway... will they be enough?
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has been busy and will remain busy with its culvert repair and replacement program, although with a wet summer ahead predicted it remains to be seen how many roads will hold up in the wet.
TRC started preparations for its culvert repair and replacement program early by procuring more than 100 culvert components which will contribute to the delivery of the 2022 Flood Recovery Program across the Region, ready for installation upon approval by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA).
In the 2020 program, TRC Infrastructure Chair Cr Carol Taylor said Council completed a total of 120 repairs of culverts and floodways, including 42 culvert or floodway replacements.
“One of our biggest challenges with that program of works was procuring culvert components, which were in high demand from all Councils impacted by flooding which is why our Flood Team made the decision to procure these components early,” she said.
“Currently our first round of 25 culverts and floodways replacements are undergoing surveying service locating and hydrology studies, which will inform the design process.
“We are hoping to have contractors onboarded in early 2023 to deliver these projects.”
Cr Taylor said across the Region, more than 600 roads with flood damage have already been assessed and submitted to the QRA for funding, with that amount likely to triple by the end of the year, totalling more than $100 million.
“With such a large number of repairs happening on our roads over the next two years, we want to continue to encourage our community to take care on the roads and to follow traffic management signage and directions,” she said.
“I sincerely thank our community for their patience and understanding as we continue to methodically work through repairing damage across our vast road network.”
The culvert projects currently being assessed/investigated include:
Brimblecombe Road, Oakey (x 4)
Oakey Biddeston Road, Oakey
Reis Road, Lilyvale
Cr Taylor said these culverts and floodways have been included in a submission to QRA and repair/replacement is subject to their approval.
“Culverts/floodways are only included in the Flood Recovery Program if the flood damage occurred during the specifically declared events,” she said.
“As we continue to methodically work through assessing damage across our vast road network, additional culverts/flood-ways may be included in future submissions to QRA for funding as part of the Flood Recovery Program.”
Jannuschs Road, Glencoe, Reis Road, Lilyvale and Lanyon Road, Jondaryan are included among ongoing priority works.
Local resident John McGrady said he was not impressed with the culvert recently installed on Jannuschs Road at Glencoe, less than a kilometre west of the Kingsthorpe township.
With the upcoming wet season being a La Niña, the culvert and gravel surface is likely to be well and truly tested and time will tell if it is up to scratch.
A few residents, including Mr McGrady, appeared on 7 News Toowoomba recently to air their grievances, flanked by Member for Condamine Pat Weir and Member for Groom Garth Hamilton.
Visit here for more information on the Flood Recovery Program.
