General News
27 December, 2024
Key repairs to damaged links
MILLIONS of dollars in repairs have been approved by Cairns Regional Council in southern areas of the region.
The council has decided to forge ahead with almost $24.5 million in repairs to infrastructure that was damaged by extreme weather associated with Tropical Cyclone Jasper a year ago.
This includes:
The permanent replacement of Fisheries Bridge at Goldsborough ($5 million) that was washed away during the December 2023 floods
Repairs to downslope landslips at Woopen Creek Rd ($1.235m)
Repairs to Lamins Bridge on Dalton Rd, Aloomba ($300,000), as well as many other locations.
A council spokesman said it was hoped that funding of the significant repairs would be provided through the Restoration of Essential Public Assets (REPA) funding stream, part of Australian Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
“(The) council approved an application for $38m for various remediation works across the region under the REPA funding stream,” he said.
“While formal grant approval has not yet been received, (the) 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, (the) council is confident that these new sites will also be approved.
“(The) 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.
“(The) 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”.
Cr Brett Moller (Div. 1) told last week’s fortnightly meeting that the new Fisheries Bridge - replacing an interim structure - would be realigned.
He said the weather event showed how strong and violent mother nature was to significantly damage the substantial causeway.
After a question from deputy mayor Cr Brett Olds, Cairns infrastructure and assets director Mark Wuth told councillors that the funding criteria only allowed “like-for-like” replacement.
He said it was essential the infrastructure was repaired first and “we’ll look for an opportunity for betterment” later.
