Recent Storm Damage and Flood Response

Commonwealth – State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) following the Southern Queensland Flooding, 6 – 20 May 2022 (May Event). The region was activated for Counter Disaster Operations on 13 May 2022. Council requested and were successful in securing the activation for Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets (REPA).

Council crews were nearing completion of Emergency Works under the February Event prior to the May 2022 event. Once again, the full South Burnett Regional Council Road network will require reinspection under the May Event with all Emergency Works identified to be completed by early August 2022.

Initial damage estimates in December 2021 following the November rain event were in the order of $10 million. After the three events across January, February, and May 2022 this estimate has doubled to a value in the order of $20 million.

So far, more than 240 out of 1300 sites identified as requiring Emergency Works from the May Event have been responded to. Council crews are currently working overtime and RDO’s to address this significant workload. In some instances, these sites have been repaired multiple times already following previous events. Since the first severe weather event in November 2021, more than 2,600 sites have been repaired under Emergency Works.

For some assets it will be a long journey on the road to recovery with this program of works expected to take two years to complete. The repairs will be undertaken in a prioritised way, focusing on safety while providing value for money. Residents who are concerned about the safety of their road are encouraged to contact Council. Council will undertake temporary works to remove safety hazards but advise motorists that road conditions will remain at a lower standard for some time.

One sub-contractor crew continues to clear blocked road culverts around the road network as part of the Immediate Reconstruction Works response. This subcontractor will be supplemented by a second contractor crew scheduled to start in early July to expedite these works.

The damage assessment phase to capture the long-term Restoration of Essential Public Assets (REPA) requirements continues across the full SBRC road network. However, this will require checks to be made across assessments completed to date for any new damage.

An external Contract to complete reconstruction works on 16 roads has been awarded and commenced in Early May. Works were initially delayed due to the recent weather. Refer to Table 1 SBRC Roads Submission 1 Contract Overview below.

To date, approximately $2.6 Million has been spent across the three Events.

A second submission containing an additional 35 roads was recently submitted to and approved by QRA. Refer to Table 2 below.

Tender documentation is in the final stage of preparation for release to market, with the objective of engaging a contractor to begin works on these roads in July/August 2022.

Additional Emergency Works, Immediate Reconstruction and Reconstruction of Essential Public Asset funding submissions will be developed and lodged for approval to QRA in the coming months. These submissions will capture damage from the November, January, February, and May declared events.

Council continues to identify dig out and repair works in and around the region. An initial program of work has been identified and a contractor engaged to begin works as per Table 3 below. This scope of work is still evolving as Council & contract personnel continue to inspect roads and identify damage in and around the SBRC region.

The current SBRC Works capital program and some of the operational programs such as patrol grading are being impacted by emergency and immediate reconstruction requirements. Our team are currently working through appropriate delivery solutions to address these requirements in conjunction with the flood damage task.

Council thanks the community for their patience during the recovery phase of this program.

Please contact South Burnett Regional Council Customer Service on (07) 4189 9100, should you require additional information.

Table 1 – SBRC Roads Submission 1 Contract Overview

Table 2 – SBRC Roads Submission 2 Contract Overview

Table 3 Initial Dig Out & Repair Works