$25M flood recovery program delivers essential repairs to Region’s roads

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has completed more than 30% of its 2021/22 flood recovery program delivering essential repairs to the Region’s roads.

In the order of $25 million, the program is being delivered through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.

The works will repair damage caused by the flood event that occurred in the Region in February 2020.

TRC Infrastructure Committee Chair Councillor Carol Taylor said Council had completed almost a third of the program to date, with remaining works to be completed by the end of 2021.

There is also a program of culvert replacement works under the DRFA, which will be largely delivered by contractors. These works are expected to be completed in the first half of 2022.

“While this flood event happened some time ago, DRFA programs generally take two years to deliver,” Cr Taylor said.

“This allowed Council time to properly assess the damage that occurred, make submissions, co-ordinate and manage the restoration program and then finalise claims through the project acquittal process.

“We live in a very big region and these things take time, but I am very pleased to say we are making headway, with a number of roads already repaired or scheduled for repairs in the coming weeks and months.”

Cr Taylor said roads are critical assets essential to thriving communities.

“TRC is responsible for maintaining more than 6,500 kilometres of sealed and unsealed roads. Every time we leave home, we journey along a local road,” she said.

“These repair works will bring great relief to those residents who have been waiting for these roads to be restored.”

Cr Taylor said some of the scheduled repairs would require road closures and urged residents to remain up-to-date with any changes or detours which may impact their local area.

“Some works will require roads to be closed for periods of time, but Council will minimise disruption to residents and other motorists as much as possible,” Cr Taylor said.

“Repairs to the road network takes time to complete and we thank for the community for their patience while this work is carried out. Council will continue to keep residents up to date as works progress.

“The extent of the works required across the Region would not have been possible without the financial of the Federal and Queensland Governments.”