November 14, 2022
South Burnett Regional Council will spend $1.25 million to upgrade six streets in Tingoora in an effort to ease drainage problems experienced by many residents.
But unless it can secure grant funding for the project, work may not be able to start until midway next year.
Tingoora’s problems first came to public attention in July this year when a petition signed by 126 residents called on the Council to fix long-standing drainage problems affecting several roads in the village.
Residents said run-off from even minimal rain events was causing significant damage to properties, and raising safety concerrns.
In one case, they said, an ambulance had been unable to access a Tingoora property in an emergency due to heavy run-off after rain.
After receiving the petition, Councillors voted to ask staff to scope the project and report back to September’s Infrastructure Standing Committee about the cost of upgrading the worst affected roads: Muller Street, Magnussens Drive, Hill Street and Home Street.
In September, Councillors were told Tingoora’s roads were currently built to a rural road standard.
Officers said upgrading to sealed urban standard kerb and channel meant that five of the roads would need to be widened to a minimum six metres to allow for proper drainage and two-way vehicle movements, and Magnussen’s Drive would need to be widened to eight metres.
Officers estimated the project would cost $1.25 million in total.
They also noted they would have to include Gibson Street and a portion of Philips Street in the work, partly to allow for proper kerb and channel alignments between the other streets, and partly to account for a ridge that bisects the town.
Given the high cost, Councillors then asked staff to look at staging the project and bring a further report back to November’s Infrastructure standing committee.
At that meeting, officers recommended the project be split into two stages.
The first stage would tackle Muller Street and Magnussen’s Drive to improve the areas most prone to scouring at an estimated cost of $612,500.
The second stage would tackle the remaining four streets at an estimated cost of $637,500.
However, because this year’s capital works budget has already been set, Councillors voted to include the project in a future capital works program.
Council officers will now attempt to obtain grant funding to cover the cost.
If they are unsuccessful, then work may not be able to start on the first stage until midway through next year after Council hands down its 2023-24 Budget.
