Roads and Infrastructure Updates

Our current road network

Council are responsible for maintaining a 1,756 kilometre road network in a 4,243 km2 regional area. Our crews are deployed in response to major weather events to repair areas of damage for road user safety, but we also maintain an accessible and serviced region day in, day out.

The details

Our region's road network has been severely and repeatedly impacted by ongoing wet weather events. The wet weather event of May 2022 was the seventh natural disaster affecting the Scenic Rim region in the last three years.

Road maintenance and natural disaster recovery providers are aware of the damage caused by these events, and undertaking temporary repairs, with over 3,000 identified damage locations to local Council roads and over 1,000 damage locations within the State controlled road network throughout the region.

This damage adds additional and enormous workload burdens on already stretched resources.

Council would like nothing more than to go and fix each site. If only it was that simple to do this would be financially irresponsible. With the Queensland Reconstruction Authorities assistance all Queensland communities are fortunate to be supported by the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) jointly funded 25% by Queensland and 75% by Australian Governments. However to ensure Council can access this funding a full and through application process has to be followed.

The current landscape

Like many other regions across Queensland, the Scenic Rim is affected by:

• a shortage of workforce in many industries
• increased demand on already exhausted resources like contractors and qualified operators
• increased costs across the civil construction industry, including traffic control and equipment.

To add to this, the demand for qualified operators throughout Queensland and New South Wales is unprecedented, as many councils are struggling to respond to the effects of these widespread weather events. Council is continually reprogramming works to respond to the effects of these widespread weather events while continuing to maintain business as usual services to our communities.

The cost to Council

The estimated repair bill to rectify the identified damage at every site within the local road network ranges from several thousands of dollars up to $4million, with an estimated final cost of approximately $60million.

What is Council doing now?

Council (and others) will continue to undertake minor and temporary repairs. For example potholes can be temporarily patched as an emergency response to quickly reduce the hazard and prevent further deterioration of the pavement, while more permanent repairs can be planned, using higher grade materials such as asphalt. These permanent repairs are prioritised within submission packages, once approved these works are then programmed and carried out as resources allow.

What does this look like?

There are varying treatment processes for road repairs, based on the types of defects, external factors such as weather, the time required to procure external funding such as the Queensland Reconstruction Authority disaster funding relief, and the repair needs throughout the region.

Potholes are temporarily patched as an emergency response to quickly reduce the hazard and prevent further deterioration of the pavement, while more permanent repairs can be planned and will use higher grade materials like asphalt.

These permanent repairs are prioritised within submission packages, and once these works are approved to start, they are programmed and (provided Council has the required resources) are carried out.

The time it takes to repair a damaged road

The scale of the event will determine the length of time that restoration of accessibility will take. Funding assistance is provided by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) at 25% from the State government and 75% from the Australian government.

For events that are widespread where the impact is of greater scale and cost, Council can access this funding, however, must follow a set process to demonstrate eligibility to receive this funding.

Council is not able to start restoration works to any site until the funding is approved. This approval funds the works and does not use rate payer funding to restore damage to roads caused by the declared event.

Council has also applied for Betterment funding for very badly damaged roads to improve the road's resilience against future weather events. Any application for Betterment funding may delay the programming of long term restoration works as this often changes the type and volume of work required at a site.

What is next?

Council asks for patience from road users while the high volume of intensive repairs are being planned and carried out across the entire region. Council acknowledges the frustration of road users in the Scenic Rim and further asks for understanding that repairs to road defects must be prioritised by level of damage and safety and evenly across the entire region.

It is never okay to carry out acts of vandalism. Council discourages the practice of spray painting road defects as this is a dangerous activity and does not influence the timing of road repairs, as the defects are already known and are addressed as quickly as possible within the reality of a large road network and limited resources.

This action may result in the requirement for Council crews to attend a site due to the introduction of new hazard or the use of offensive language, resulting in increased costs to the community and further delays to the reconstruction program.

You can report vandalism to Crime Stoppers 24 hours a day by calling 1800 333 000 or make a report here.

How do I report an issue on a road?

Our crews carry out regular inspections and proactively patrol our road network to ensure maintenance issues are repaired in a timely manner, however, if you do notice a pothole or damage to the road network that is affecting traffic movement or safety, you can report it to Council by:

• Submitting an Online Request form for Council-owned roads
• Calling (07) 5540 5111 and letting the Customer Service representative know the road name, suburb, specific location, and a description of the damage.
• Report any issues with State-controlled roads to the Department of Transport and Main Roads by phoning 13 19 40 or visit https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/more/Contact-Us/