Flood damage repair works start on Gregory Developmental Road

The first of five joint disaster relief-funded projects to repair flood-damaged sections of the Gregory Developmental Road between Charters Towers and the Lynd Junction will begin next week (w/c 31 August), Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said today.

The $68 million flood damage repair and restoration works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Natural Disaster Recovery and Relief Arrangements (NDRRA).

“These works are in addition to more than $16.5 million already spent on emergency road repair works in Far North and Northern Queensland immediately following the worst flooding in decades, as a result of cyclones Charlotte and Ellie earlier this year,” Mr Wallace said.

“The first of the NDRRA projects on the Gregory Developmental Road will repair a 13-kilometre-section of road about 27 kilometres north of Charters Towers.

“Following these works, repairs to a further 50 kilometres of the road, north of Charters Towers through to the Lynd Junction, will be underway before the next wet season.

“When I travelled the Gregory Developmental Road in June, I saw firsthand how the road had been affected by this flooding.

“I met with representatives from the local community and I gave a commitment to secure NDRRA funding to repair this important inland route.”

Sections to be repaired include:

• either side of Fletcher Creek rest area
• near Welcome Downs, north of Greenvale
• about 35 kilometres south of Bluewater Springs Roadhouse to 20 kilometres north of Greenvale.

“In addition, another 50 kilometres of repair works will start in late September on sections of the Kennedy Developmental Road and the Kennedy Highway, between the Lynd Junction and Mount Garnet,” Mr Wallace said.

“Our aim is to repair and restore these vital inland routes and to complete as many of the works as possible before the next wet season.”

Mr Wallace said the Department of Transport and Main Roads, in consultation with transport operators, had developed traffic management plans to minimise impacts and ensure the safety of road workers and motorists while these vital restoration works were underway.

“Road users can expect multiple work sites to be operating on major routes in the north, far north and western areas of the state, from now until the repair program is completed,” he said.

“I thank motorists for their patience and cooperation in obeying the direction of traffic controllers, signage and reduced speed limits around roadworks and urge them to continue to drive to conditions.”

The department will continue to provide the community with regular roadworks information through newspaper advertising and updates on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website at www.transportandmainroads.qld.gov.au

Current roadworks information can be accessed by calling 131940 or visiting 131940.qld.gov.au. To be added to the email or fax list to receive updates on Gregory Developmental Road roadworks, please contact Main Roads Community Engagement Services in Townsville on 4720 7446 or email pco.northern@mainroads.qld.gov.au.

Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office 3896 3689