Funding assistance helps drive the road to recovery

Scenic Rim Regional Council’s flood recovery program is set to hit the ground running in early 2023, following successful funding applications to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA). 

An update provided to Council at yesterday's Ordinary Meeting showed damage assessments and a range of emergency repair works have been undertaken during 2022, supporting the need for long-term restoration works across the Scenic Rim. 

With the Scenic Rim region seeing some of the worst widespread rainfall and flooding in generations since late 2020, nine floodways and 22 landslips will require repair or total replacement as a result of multiple declared disaster events. 

Mayor Greg Christensen said that, since the bushfires that devastated the Scenic Rim in 2019, the region had endured five separate flooding events impacting the delivery of Council's Capital Works Program. 

"Council will delay the delivery of some projects under the 2022-2023 Capital Works Program to allow current crews to provide additional support to the restoration works required as a result of the declared disaster events,” he said. 

"Emergency works already carried out or in progress have focused on safety through temporary solutions. 

"Long-term restoration works for targeted projects may be delayed so that Council can apply for Betterment funding, which is a competitive grants process, but, if successful, would help increase the resilience of our assets against future flood events.”  

The total cost of damage to more than half the region’s road network, including 75 per cent of its unsealed roads from a series of declared disaster events, has been estimated at $50 million. 

"The QRA has now approved $18.1 million in grant funding, which will go towards this total damage bill, and we have applied for a further $13.6 million currently pending approval," Mayor Christensen said. 

"If this additional application is successful, it would bring the total cost to Council down to $18.3 million. 

"As we head into 2023, available crews will be devoted to our flood recovery works, which we are anticipating will take 18 months to complete, pending any further interruptions due to weather conditions or resourcing. 

"Our crews have a difficult task ahead of them before long-term restoration works can start, with many eligible projects requiring extensive planning and design and the engagement of specialist contractors and sub-contractors to support our own workforce.” 

Mayor Christensen said 2023 is shaping up as a big year for Council to successfully deliver its flood recovery program against a backdrop of limited resources and ongoing wet weather combined with the need for regular maintenance of key infrastructure and assets to support the Scenic Rim’s growing population and economic growth. 

"I would like to thank Scenic Rim residents and road users for their understanding and their patience during a particularly trying time for our region,” he said. 

The QRA assistance is provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

-ENDS- 

Image: Teviotville Road, Kalbar.