24 June 2022
Southern Downs Regional Council is pleased to advise the community that planned repair works on the Goldfields Road culvert are progressing and will now proceed to the design phase thanks to assistance provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The structural integrity of the culvert was initially compromised in the November 2021 flood event, however additional stress from subsequent flood events in March and May 2022 caused the culvert to collapse.
Council’s Director of Infrastructure Gary Murphy said that the upcoming works to the structure will include a significant upgrade to the culvert to bolster its immunity to future flood events.
“The repair works will not only deliver a new culvert, but provide a much better and far safer crossing,” Mr Murphy said.
“The culvert size will be increased from the existing pipe culvert which will significantly bolster the immunity of the culvert against future flood events.”
As part of emergent repairs, a side track has been constructed to keep the road open and accessible to the community. Council officers will continue to ensure that the track is maintained for the duration of the repair works.
With the culvert now ordered and expected to arrive in early January 2023, pending a smooth supply chain process, construction will occur later in 2023.
In an effort to speed up the repair process, Council will undertake the tender process during the culvert procurement so that construction can commence once the culvert has arrived.
“I want to thank the community for their patience as Council teams continue to work around the region to address the mammoth flood repair task,” Mr Murphy said.
“Delivering safer roads on the Southern Downs is high on our infrastructure repair priority list and we look forward to seeing the Goldfields Road culvert restored as soon as possible.”
Last edited date 24 Aug 2022