There's light at the end of the tunnel for works at heritage-listed site

Lahey's Canungra Tramway Tunnel

Scenic Rim Regional Council has completed significant works at the heritage-listed Lahey's Canungra Tramway Tunnel with more scheduled in coming months. 

The Tramway Tunnel project is being funded with the support of the Environmental Recovery Program, which is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, in association with Scenic Rim Regional Council.  

The $35,000 project has focused on restoring the tramway tunnel which was first used in 1903 and listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2005.  

These works have included removing storm debris at the entrance to the tunnel, repairing one of its external walls, and restoring the access track to the tunnel from Duncan Street, Canungra. 

Further works are scheduled at Lahey’s Canungra Tramway Tunnel in coming months and Council asks that everyone keeps well away from the site during this time as heavy machinery will be in use.  

The 91-metre Lahey's Canungra Tramway Tunnel, cut through sandstone of the Darlington Range, was part of a tramway route owned by the pioneering Lahey family, whose sawmill was key to the establishment of Canungra's township and its local economy. 

At its peak, the mill produced Australia's greatest output of softwood timber and the tramway tunnel was a vital link in the haulage of logs from the Coomera Valley to Canungra. 

Work will continue to restore this important heritage site following the extraordinary disaster events of the 2021-2022 severe weather season.