August 2, 2013
The State Government has allocated $498,000 to help flood-proof Pound Street in Kingaroy.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said the money would be used to build a new concrete floodway, three new pipe culverts and headwall.
The works are designed to increase the “flood immunity” and utility of Pound Street by avoiding potential road closures, reducing the safety risks associated with traffic being diverted to other roads and improving accessibility to the industrial precinct, shopping centre and childcare centre following floods.
The money is part of more than $1.4 million which has been awarded by the State Government to repair key flood damaged roads in the South Burnett.
The other roads to get assistance are Geritz Road in Kingaroy (the road past the SQIT TAFE College) and Heading Road, north of Murgon.
Geritz Road has been allocated $629,000 for the construction of a new causeway, approaches and aprons.
Mrs Frecklington said this would provide improved access to Kingaroy Airport, the TAFE, the school bus route and commercial traffic transporting livestock to markets.
The $395,600 repairs to Heading Road at Sunny Nook will build a new causeway to improve resiliency and provide greater access for local community.
Mrs Frecklington said the projects were being funded by the State Government’s “Betterment Fund”.
This $80 million fund has been jointly funded by the State and Federal governments.
“(The Betterment Fund) aims to make flood prone roads and communities more resilient. In the past, the guidelines for replacing infrastructure have been so rigid and bureaucratic that councils were only allowed to rebuild structures to the same standard in the same location,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The Betterment Fund is helping communities like the South Burnett to put forward a solution that might cost a little more up front but will save us all paying for damage over and over again,” she said.
- Related article: Council Ponders Pound Street Solution
