Council will forge ahead with almost $24.5 million in repairs to infrastructure that was damaged by extreme weather associated with Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
This includes the permanent replacement of Fisheries Bridge at Goldsborough ($5 million) that was washed away during the December 2023 floods, as well as repairs for downslope landslips at Baron Gorge Road ($6 million), Lower Freshwater Road ($1.78 million) and Woopen Creek Road ($1.235 million).
There are also repairs planned for Gundy Anton Bridge in Machans Beach ($400,000) and Lamins Bridge on Dalton Road, Aloomba ($300,000), as well as many other locations.
It is hoped that funding of these significant repairs will be provided through the Restoration of Essential Public Assets (REPA) funding stream, part of Australian Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Council approved an application for $38 million for various remediation works across the region under the REPA funding stream.
While formal grant approval has not yet been received, Council will commence works as soon as possible to reduce the ongoing impact to the public, lower the risk of further site deterioration (particularly with the impending wet season), and to secure the supply of materials and contractors while they are available.
As the works are similar in nature to several sites recently approved for funding under the March 2023 monsoon event grant stream, Council is confidence that these new sites will also be approved.
Council also notes that formal approvals may take several months and delaying works impede its ability to deliver the extensive DRFA program prior to the grant deadline of June 2026.
Council has commenced discussions on site-by-site extensions to the standard two financial year DRFA timeframe to complete works to include 2027/28.
Projects such as bridge reconstructions are at a scale and complexity that may require additional time to complete.
