Flood Damage Restoration

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Overview

During 2021/22, the Western Downs experienced an unprecedented period of frequent high rainfall and multiple flood events across the region. While this much-needed rainfall provided great moisture profiles in the soil for cropping and replenished water in our dams, it caused significant damage to our large road network.

Council is currently delivering the largest flood damage restoration package in Queensland to ensure our roads are safe and well maintained. This damage is estimated at approximately $167 million to restore these sites to their pre-event condition. The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) has approved an extension of time for delivery of the program, and the restoration work is now programmed to be completed by 31 March 2025, weather permitting.

The delivery of this program required an initial comprehensive road assessment to capture the extent of the damage.

Since November 2021, a significant amount of temporary emergency repairs have been completed. These temporary repairs ensured the impacted roads were restored to a safe standard as soon as possible. At the same time, Council was planning and scheduling more permanent reconstruction works in these locations, taking into consideration the site conditions and the standard of resources required to complete the permanent reconstruction.  

The flood damage restoration works program procurement has been finalised and the last of the work packages are nearing completion.

The works involve desilting and repair of drainage structures, gravel re-sheeting, formation grading, shoulder regrading, replacing culverts, and pavement repairs.

  

The below map details the extent of the 2021/22 flood damage as highlighted in purple.

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Work Project Updates

Council released 'rounds' of works packages to civil contractors to ensure consistent delivery across multiple locations at a time within the region. This approach has ensured the large flood damage restoration program has been delivered efficiently and to a high-quality standard.

Western Downs released sixteen (16) rounds of flood damage restoration works packages. The regular wet weather events experienced throughout the Western Downs Region in late 2023, early 2024, and late 2024, has delayed the delivery of packages.

You can find out more details on what roads have already been repaired as well as what roads repairs are in progress or due to commence shortly.

Completed Packages

Please view our map of Completed Works Packages Map(PDF, 18MB)

Works in Progress

Round 12  

  • Package 39 – Yulabilla / Drillham South / Condamine / The Gums / Tara area Map(PDF, 606KB) – Delivery planned to be completed in April 2025
  • Package 41 – Jandowae / Tuckerang / Warra / Jimbour West / Macalister / Pirrinuan / Dalby area Map(PDF, 770KB) – Delivery planned between November 2024 and April 2025
  • Package 42 – Jandowae / Cooranga / Jimbour East / Bell / Kaimkillenbun / Pirrinuan / Dalby area Map(PDF, 524KB) – Delivery planned October 2024 and April 2025
Sealed
  • Package Seal 06 – Numerous locations surrounding Chinchilla, to Kogan / Condamine / Miles / Hookswood / Blackswamp / Burncluith / Langlands / Tuckerang / Brigalow areas Map(PDF, 2MB) – Delivery planned between November 2024 and April 2025 
Drainage
  • Package Drainage 02 – Various locations around Chinchilla / Brigalow / Montrose / Condamine and in the south-west of the Region, between Weranga / Glenmorgan / Coomrith / Westmar / Moonie areas Map(PDF, 666KB) – Delivery planned to be completed in April 2025
  • Package Drainage 03 – Various locations in the north-east of the Region, between Dalby / Warra / Jinghi / Diamondy / Bunya Mountains / Kaimkillenbun areas Map(PDF, 475KB) – Delivery planned between December 2024 and April 2025

Please view our map of Works to be Delivered, In-progress Works Packages and Completed Works Packages Map(PDF, 18MB)

Council also continues to procure gravel from commercial pits and quarries.

Resilience Projects & Betterment Funding

As part of the 2021/22 Flooding events, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) released Betterment funding to rebuild essential public assets to a more resilient standard to help withstand the impacts of future natural disasters.

Council compiled a list of assets that would improve flood immunity or create more resilient assets, utilising local knowledge from staff and Western Downs residents. Council applied for funding for eighty-six (86) individual assets (sites).

Council was successful with Betterment funding applications for five (5) major sites, which were nominated as Council’s highest priority sites. These successful sites are below:

  • Commodity Court, Dalby – road reconstruction including an upgraded pavement incorporating pavement geotextiles to increase the resilience of this asset. Construction is underway by Council’s Works crew and planned to be completed by the end or March 2025, subject to weather.

The civil design for the following sites is complete, with the construction works to be delivered by civil contractors. These sites are anticipated to be completed by the end of June 2025.

  • Giligulgul Road, Wandoan - Culvert Upgrade – replacing the older 2 x RCP pipes with larger RCBCs (box culverts) to increase flood immunity and resilience of this site.
  • Sandalwood Avenue West, Dalby - Floodway Upgrade – upgrading the bitumen sealed floodway to a concrete floodway to increase the resilience of this site.
  • Springvale Road, Dalby - Floodway Upgrade – upgrading the existing bitumen sealed invert floodway to a concrete floodway with under road drainage (RCBCs - box culverts) to improve flood immunity and resilience of this site.
  • Wilds Road, Dalby – Multiple Floodway Upgrades – upgrading multiple existing invert bitumen floodways to either invert asphalt or concrete floodways to improve resilience of these sites. 

Due to the similarities of the scope of works, Council is also delivering reconstruction works at the following sites in parallel with the Betterment works.

  • Gurulmundi Road at Hellhole Creek, Woleebee – Floodway reconstruction
  • Sundown Road, Woleebee – Floodway reconstruction and upgrade of existing from pipes to box culverts.

Preparing for future flood events

  • We encourage you to be prepared by following our five steps for preparing for emergencies Be Prepared.
  • During a disaster we will provide information on our Disaster Dashboard.

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Frequently asked questions 

Where is the funding for these flood recovery works coming from?

The flood recovery works is jointly funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). This funding provides disaster relief and recovery payments and infrastructure restoration to help communities recover from the effects of natural disasters and terrorist acts. In Queensland, this program is managed on a whole-of-government basis by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA).

Is there funding available to assist with damage that occurred to my property?

An exceptional circumstances package has been released by the QRA and is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments to support Queensland communities in recovery from three significant weather events during the 2021-22 Queensland summer.

More information of funding available can be found on the QRA Website.

What repairs can I expect if my road is identified in one of the Flood Damage Restoration Works Packages?

Flood damage restoration works are reliant on external funding, which in most cases only allow for repairs to reinstatement of previous condition.

Where possible, we are working with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) to gain additional funding (Betterment Funding) to improve flood resilience. Unfortunately, this is not possible for every road.

What is the difference between emergent works and permanent repairs?

Emergent works are emergency works and immediate reconstruction works that: 

  • happen soon after a disaster
  • involve roads being made safe 
  • restore public access
  • are temporary in nature.

Permanent repair or reconstruction works: 

  • follow the completion of emergent work 
  • require more planning, engineering and design 
  • take longer to complete than emergent works
  • deliver reinstatement to previous condition. 
Why is my road not getting a full gravel re-sheet?
  • Flood recovery works are being completed under set funding arrangements. To obtain this funding, Council has to abide by the prescribed treatment guide for each damaged road.
  • If you are concerned about what treatment your road is receiving, you are welcome to contact Council and one of our team will assist with your query.
Why have Council officers or contractors visited my road so often prior to construction happening?
  • In order to claim the funding available from QRA to repair our road network, a rigorous damage assessment process is required, including site visits and documenting damage with photos. As a result of this process, you may have noticed Council staff or our Contractors visiting impacted areas to gather this data. 
  • Although this process may be demanding at times given the large amount of damage to our road network, claiming eligible funds is in the best interest of our community. These funds help us recover from the effects of natural disasters.
Why are you replacing a small floodway/culvert on my road with a large expensive floodway/culvert?
  • In some instances, Council must rebuild damaged culverts/floodways to the latest standard in accordance with Department of Agricultural and Fisheries (DAF) accepted development requirements for operational work that is constructing or raising waterway barrier works (WWBW).
  • Information about WWBW can be found on the DAF website.
How have you decided what is included and what is excluded from flood recovery works?
  • In order to claim funding from QRA to repair our road network an assessment process is required. 
  • If damage to a road asset was not caused by flood damage in the specifically declared events, that damaged asset is not eligible for funding under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
  • Our Works crews are still programming and delivering our regular maintenance works on our roads, as well as completing our planned capital upgrades.

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