17 June, 2022
Mayor: flood repair bill may top $100m
It has been all hands on deck at Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) lately as the extensive flood season has seen repairs made to more than 2,800 road defects across the region since last November, with the total cost estimated by Mayor Paul Antonio to potentially exceed $100 million.
Mayor Antonio said Council is working as fast as practicable to repair roads to a safe and trafficable standard across the Region.
“It is a huge undertaking to maintain emergency road repairs, particularly in the wake of successive flood events that occurred in November 2021, then late February, early March, in early April and again last month,” Mayor Antonio said.
“This has been an extraordinary time for prolonged rain events, with above average rainfall, and extensive flooding, which has damaged urban and rural roads across much of our 13,000km² Region.”
Mayor Antonio said TRC is still in the process of undertaking repairs to the tune of $30 million from the February 2020 flood.
“This work is scheduled for completion in August this year,” he said.
“Successive weather events have delayed those repairs and added extra sites to the list.”
Infrastructure Services Committee chair Cr Carol Taylor said Council was determined to improve the Region’s flood immunity and complete immediate, smaller road repairs as quickly as possible.
“We ask for residents’ patience as we attend to our massive road repair program,” Cr Taylor said.
“Council is responsible for a road network that covers more than 6600km - more than 3300km of sealed and more than 3300km of gravel roads.”
Cr Taylor said in addition to the 2,800 minor repairs, almost the same number of repairs are yet to completed.
“Motorists are advised to use extreme caution at all times. Please observe any warning signs and drive to the conditions, as not every hazard will be signposted.
“In addition to our emergency road repairs that will continue in coming months, Council is capturing and analysing information to develop detailed funding submissions that will be lodged with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
“As these submissions are reviewed and approved, Council will prioritise works as we undertake the multi-million-dollar flood restoration program, which will take at least the next two years.”
Cr Taylor said following the 2010/2011 record flood events, Council undertook the largest flood recovery program the Region has seen.
“This program was interrupted by further flooding in early 2013 and in 2015.
“The Region has also experienced further flood events in 2018, 2020, plus the events of late 2021 and this year,” she said.
For road closure advice, visit disaster.tr.qld.gov.au
