Most of Debbie’s road damage due to be repaired by December

The devastation Cyclone Debbie wreaked upon Queensland’s road network is being overcome as the state prepares to mark the anniversary of the storm.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey commended road crews for their hard work, and said thanks to them, most repairs were due to be completed by the end of the year.

“Cyclone Debbie was a truly destructive storm that caused $2.4 billion in damages across the country, and resulted in the tragic deaths of 14 people,” Mr Bailey said.

“I know many communities are still struggling with the losses they endured, but we are working hard to rebuild as quickly as possible.

“Compared to other disasters in recent years, the heavy rainfall totals associated with cyclone Debbie caused significant landslips as well as road damage, with more than 200 sites requiring geotechnical repairs, some of which were unprecedented in Queensland.

“Immediately afterwards, we completed temporary repairs to reopen roads or provided detours to ensure the community had access.

“The complex nature of the damage has meant further structural and geotechnical investigations and design work have been required on many sites, in order to determine the full extent of damage and best value-for-money solutions for long-term repairs.”

Repairs to the state-controlled road network are estimated to cost up to $250 million, with $55.6 million already spent on works completed to 28 February 2018.

Mr Bailey said the main areas of focus were the Sarina Range, south of Mackay, and the Gold Coast hinterland.

‘‘Both of these focus areas suffered severe landslips requiring road closures, and I’m aware these communities have suffered,’’ Mr Bailey said.

‘‘We are also conducting ongoing slope instability monitoring to ensure works can be completed safely.

“We are making good headway given the circumstances, with works completed at almost half of the 26 landslip sites on the Sarina Range, three critical sites at Lamington National Park Road and the main landslip site at Tomewin Mountain Road.

“This follows repairs already completed last year at John Muntz Causeway and Pine Creek Road on the Gold Coast.”

Mr Bailey said natural disaster reconstruction projects were delivered under a highly compressed timetable compared to typical road building projects, to support disaster-affected communities regaining use of roads as quickly as possible.

“Typically, it takes two to three years for the planning, scoping, budget allocation and design phases of a road project,” Mr Bailey said.

“This includes investigating flora and fauna, undertaking geological investigations, undertaking surveying, identifying land tenure, applying for a range of permits and detailed design.

“Only then can tender, contract award, procurement and construction start. In the case of natural disaster repairs, this process is compressed into a six to 12-month period so we can get works under way sooner.”

Progress on key sites includes:

• John Muntz Causeway (Tamborine–Oxenford Road) – bridge approach and embankment repaired, and road reopened on 30 June 2017
• Pine Creek Road – temporary repairs completed within 36 hours to provide a detour route for Gold Coast–Springbrook Road. Permanent repairs completed in August 2017.
• Sarina Range (Marlborough–Sarina Road) – soil nailing to stabilise the upper slope at the main landslip was completed in February 2018. Excavation of the roadway at the main slip site will start in April. The downhill slope treatment will include a large volume of rock fill, soil nailing and a six to eight-metre mass block retaining wall, with work expected to be completed by December 2018. Reconstruction works completed at 12 of the 26 landslip sites.
• Lamington National Park Road – road reopened following emergency repairs. Work to repair three of the most critical sites completed in February 2018. Reconstruction works in progress at more than 80 remaining sites, with completion expected in late 2018.
• Gold Coast–Springbrook Road – reconstruction works in progress at 18 critical sites and 35 minor sites within the closed section, with the road expected to reopen in October 2018 and project completion expected by December 2018.
• Nerang–Murwillumbah Road – design complete and tender for reconstruction works released in February 2018.
• Tomewin Mountain Road – repairs to the main landslip site completed in February 2018. Design for repairs to remaining landslip sites complete and contract for reconstruction works awarded in February 2018.
• Beechmont Road – design for repairs to landslip sites complete and contract for reconstruction works to be awarded in late March 2018.

• Gladstone–Monto Road – reconstruction in progress on five landslip sites, with completion expected in May 2018.

Eligible reconstruction works will be jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Government under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

Background:

Cyclone Debbie formed on March 26 2017, and crossed the Queensland coast near Airlie Beach on March 28.

ENDS

Media contact:          Dominic Geiger, 0447355565