Hinterland communities impacted by 2022 rain events that caused a series of road defects are progressively being reconnected as a range of reconstruction projects gather momentum.
Repairs to numerous unsealed roads damaged during the flooding across the Sunshine Coast are on track to be completed by June this year, weather dependent.
Since the region was hit hard by severe weather events in February and May 2022, Sunshine Coast Council has been busy assessing and fixing public assets across the region.
Scott Taylor, the council’s executive of built infrastructure, said the most impacted areas during the weather event were Bald Knob, Wootha, Glenview, Eudlo, Coolum, Peachester, Montville and Towen Mountain.
“We sustained significant damage to numerous infrastructure assets which have now been repaired or are currently in the process of having works delivered,” he said.
“There are some unsealed roads where significant sections of the surface were damaged, whereas other roads contain only small areas to be repaired.
“We’ve been working with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) to secure the funding to reconstruct damaged roads and other civil assets with assistance from the jointly funded Commonwealth and State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).”
The council has been awarded funding for different sections of numerous roads and contractors will complete the approved works.
One of the most challenging projects was the repair of Policeman Spur Road at Wootha, near Maleny.
As the only access road for residents, as well as to local nature reserves and an ecotourism resort, Policeman Spur Road is a crucial piece of the road network.
However, with public safety a major consideration, the damage to Policeman Spur Road left the council with no option other than to close the road to the public.
A geotechnical assessment identified a major landslip on the road that required an engineered solution.
Fixing the road was no easy task, requiring a $921,000 investment on both repairs and time relating to design and construction.
The road required landslip rectification, the installation of a protective block wall, reinstatement works and rockfill along a 60-metre section of the surface.
In the event of another weather disaster, the slope is designed to remain in place and should not wash away.
Mr Taylor said that while many may be frustrated with the progress, the council was working as fast and safely as possible.
“Council is progressively rebuilding damaged unsealed roads totalling almost 250,000sqm – which would cover more than 980 tennis courts or over three Suncorp Stadiums – through the DRFA,” Mr Taylor said.
“We thank our community and road users for their patience and driving to the conditions while we have been progressively repairing these roads across the region.”
Unsealed roads to be repaired across Sunshine Coast region, listed by division*
Division 1
71,260sqm
Division 3
1,572sqm
Division 5
80,159sqm
Division 7
833sqm
Division 8
980sqm
Division 9
21,243sqm
Division 10
72,868sqm
TOTAL
248,915sqm
* Unsealed roads in some parts of the region were less affected by the 2022 weather events and therefore not all divisional areas require QRA funding for repairs.
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