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. Whilst this much-needed rainfall provided great moisture profiles in the soil for cropping and replenished water in our dams, it caused significant damage on 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. This restoration work is programmed to be completed by the end of 2024, 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 has also been completed. These temporary repairs ensure the impacted roads can be restored to a safe standard as soon as possible. At the same time, Council is planning and scheduling more permanent reconstruction works in these locations, which also takes into consideration the site conditions and the standard of resources required to complete the permanent reconstruction.  

Currently, forty-eight percent (48%) of the flood damage restoration works program has been awarded to civil contractors in work packages to be delivered with more than 26% of this restoration work already completed. 

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 is releasing 'rounds' of work packages to civil contractors to ensure consistent delivery across multiple locations at a time within the region. This approach will ensure the large flood damage restoration program is delivered efficiently and to a high-quality standard.

Western Downs has released nine rounds of flood damage restoration work packages.

Round 9 work packages (packages 26 – 29) are currently out to market and will be awarded in March 2024, with works expected to commence on the respective roads in April.

The next round of packages will be released to market for interested civil contractors to price in April, with works expected to commence shortly afterwards.

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 6
  • Package 16 - Sujeewong / Auburn area Map(PDF, 690KB) – Delivery programmed between December 2023 and April 2024
  • Package 17 - Tara area Map(PDF, 652KB) - Delivery programmed between December 2023 and March 2024
  • Package 18 - Inglestone / Southwood / Westmar / Flinton area Map(PDF, 518KB) - Delivery programmed between September 2023 and March 2024
Round 7
  • Package 19 – Tara / Goranba / Marmadua / Weir River area Map(PDF, 642KB) – Delivery programmed between December 2023 and April 2024
  • Package 20 - Wandoan / Grosmont / Roche Creek area Map(PDF, 622KB) - Delivery programmed between November 2023 and April 2024
  • Package 21 - Chinchilla / Red Hill / Burncluith / Pelican / Fairyland area Map(PDF, 730KB) - Delivery programmed between December 2023 and April 2024  
Round 8
  • Package 22 - Bell / Bunya Mountains area Map(PDF, 326KB) - Delivery planned between January and March 2024
  • Package 23 - Boonarga / Brigalow / Hopeland / Crossroads / Montrose area Map(PDF, 408KB) - Delivery planned between January and April 2024
  • Package 24 - Miles / Hookswood / Columboola / Goombi / Cameby / Rywung area Map(PDF, 546KB) - Delivery planned between January and April 2024
  • Package 25 - Eurombah / Clifford / Bundi / Grosmont / Bogandilla area Map(PDF, 273KB) - Delivery planned between February and June 2024 
Round 9
(out to market during February 2024)
  • Package 26 - Glenaubyn / Drillham / Drillham South / Miles area Map(PDF, 355KB) - Delivery planned between April and June 2024
  • Package 27 - Tara / The Gums / Moonie area Map(PDF, 650KB) - Delivery planned between April and August 2024
  • Package 28 - Weranga / Kumbarilla / Ducklo / Halliford / Ranges Bridge / Nandi / Springvale / St Ruth area Map(PDF, 513KB) - Delivery planned between April and July 2024
  • Package 29 -  Blackswamp / Cameby / Rywung / Baking Board / Greenswamp area Map(PDF, 211KB) - Delivery planned between April and July 2024

Please view our map of Works to be Delivered, In-progress Works Packages and Completed Works Packages Map(PDF, 19MB)

Further works packages continue to be developed for release in coming months, including additional packages for repairs on Council's sealed road network. 

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 upgrading pavement incorporating drainage geotextiles to increase the resilience of this asset.
  • Giligulgul Road, Wandoan - Culvert Upgrade – replacing the older 2 x RCP pipes with larger RCBCs 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) 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.

The civil designs for these sites are underway, with the construction works to be delivered by either Council’s internal Works crews or civil contractors. These sites are anticipated to be completed in 2024.

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 Relief and 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 roads 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 a 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 Relief and 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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