March 12, 2013
Traffic limitations on the Stuart River Bridge near Proston are costing the nearby Smithfield Feedlot an estimated $1500 to $2000 every day.
South Burnett Regional Council was forced to issue an urgent “bridge closure” notice on March 6.
Inspections by the Department of Transport and Main Roads had identified some structural defects after the latest round of flooding.
The department’s RoadTek crews worked on the bridge and it partially re-opened the following afternoon, reduced to one lane with a 20 tonne load limit and a 40km/h speed limit.
Since then local residents have heard nothing about when the bridge will be fixed.
South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann confirmed today Council was also waiting for news and had asked the department to set a date by the end of this week.
Smithfield managing director Jason Shearer-Smith said trucks bringing feed and cattle to his feedlot were being forced to travel via Durong, Tingoora, Wondai and Proston because of the load limit on the bridge.
He didn’t like to complain because there were a lot of people in the South Burnett in a worse position due to the floods, but the bridge damage was severely affecting his business.
There are currently about 18,000 head at the feedlot.
This is the second time flood damage has affected Smithfield this year.
Washouts on the Proston-Boondooma Road during the Australia Day weekend floods isolated Smithfield for five days until council road crews could make urgent road repairs.
But this time around, council can’t fix the problem. It’s up to the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
“We’re in a very strong financial position and can weather it, but it’s been a tough few months,” Jason said.
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