Sign of the times to help travellers navigate flood prone Cecil Plains Road

A decade of residents standing on the side of the Dalby Cecil Plains Road warning unaware drivers of what lies ahead during wet weather is finally about to end.

TRC Construction and Maintenance portfolio spokesperson and Chair of the Local Recovery Group, Councillor Carol Taylor said local good Samaritans were putting their own needs last to protect travellers passing through the area.

“There are three points that the Dalby Cecil Plains Road can be flooded, and the river system means this happens first from the northernmost section,” Cr Taylor said.

“If you enter the road from the south you can go through a floodway without any problem to find the next one flooded and before you know it the one behind you is flooded and you are isolated,” she said.

“This has happened frequently in recent years and several groups including the local Chamber of Commerce, Cecil Plains Lions Club, The Crier newspaper, the State Emergency Service have been calling for change.”

Cr Taylor said Toowoomba Regional Council has taken the plight of residents to heart and helped obtain a Road Condition and Information Sign (RCIS) at Cecil Plains to warn travellers.

“The community of Cecil Plains had been seeking a RCIS for nearly 10 years, but it did not fit with the requirements for this type of sign,” she said.

“As a result of community engagement and consultation as part of the recovery process after the 2021/2022 flood events Council has supported the push for this sign and after two years, we finally have it,” she said.

“The Toowoomba Regional Council Disaster Management Team has been able to negotiate and install the sign under a Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements Flexible Funding Grant.

“It is a great outcome for the community who will now be able to focus on their own safety instead of standing on the roadside.

“Residents can now stay at home, taking care of family, neighbours and community before being potentially isolated for up to 10 days.”

Cr Taylor said the RCIS sign will be controlled by the State Government Traffic Management Control Centre to ensure the latest information can be relayed to residents as quickly as possible.

The Road Conditions Information Sign was installed in September ahead of the storm season.

“There is no doubt it will enhance road safety and reduce the risk of motorists driving into floodwaters during periods of heavy rainfall,” Cr Taylor said.

“This sign will be installed to provide immediate warning to motorists of flooded road conditions using highly visible LED road signs, which will be automatically activated when flood water levels exceed the threshold determined to be unsuitable for safe passage,” she said.

The sign, which will be located at the intersection of Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road and Dalby-Cecil Plains Road, displaying a ‘OPEN’ or ‘CLOSED’ message, which will be highly visible at night and during the day.