Council steers funding towards better roads and bridges

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Published
11 July 2022
Kerry Road Works

Scenic Rim Regional Council's 2022-2023 Budget includes a multi-million dollar investment in the continuation of the Kerry Road project.

Scenic Rim Regional Council’s continued commitment to improving the local road and bridge network will mean millions of dollars are invested from the 2022-2023 Budget.

With more than 1,750 km of roads in the Scenic Rim, Council has a continued commitment to sustainable investment in its road network.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the region’s economy depended on good quality infrastructure, and the community expected Council to deliver.

“We pride ourselves on our agricultural foundations, so users of heavy vehicles and farm machinery need safe roads to move around," he said.

"And of course, our tourism sector is also strong, which is another reason why we invest heavily in improving our transport networks to ensure visitors have an enjoyable experience in the Scenic Rim."

A multi-million-dollar investment in Kerry Road, south of Beaudesert, will continue to roll out, with three separate road sections planned this year:

  • Continuation of Kerry Road ongoing project - nearby Ward Bridge to Newman Bridge to Keaveny Bridge ($1.1 million)
  • Approximately 800m south of Ward Lane, Kerry to Duck Creek Bridge ($2.5 million)
  • Spring Creek Bridge to the pavement width change ($1.39 million)

Division 2 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Jeff McConnell said Veresdale Scrub Road at Gleneagle is also planned for upgrade from the intersection of Mount Lindesay Highway to Fields Road with an allocation of $2,178,106 provided by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.

Three bridges will also see improvements this year, with $3.1 million allocated to:

  • Hinchcliffe Bridge, Kooralbyn, will be replaced with a higher structure to improve flood immunity and widened, with a pedestrian path to be included. This will improve load capacity and reduce long-term maintenance costs on the existing timber bridge.
  • Freeman Bridge, Veresdale Scrub will be replaced with a concrete bridge to improve load capacity and widened to two lanes.
  • Kengoon Bridge, just north of Kalbar, will be replaced with a concrete bridge to improve load capacity.

By the end of the 2022 - 2023 financial year, the number of timber bridges across the Scenic Rim regional network will be 54, down from 97 in 2011.

Division 3 Councillor Virginia West said Council would also invest in many other smaller projects across the region to maintain and renew the local road and drainage network, including almost 400 road reseal projects.

Division 4 Councillor Michael Enright said the necessary upgrade to Hinchcliffe Bridge at Kooralbyn will provide a stronger structure to sustain future wet weather events and contribute to overall safety for commuters.

Division 6 Councillor Duncan McInnes said that ensuring the region can accommodate an expansive transport network is critical and that the replacement of Kengoon Bridge, which is currently a timber bridge, will allow for improved vehicle load capacity.

The external funding includes:

  • The Australian Government's Roads to Recovery Program ($1,089,000)
  • Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme ($743,983)
  • The Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI) ($2,178,106) for upgrades to Veresdale Scrub Road
  • The Australian Government's Bridges Renewal Program ($3,104,041) for the Hinchcliffe and Kengoon bridge replacements
  • The Australian Government's Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program ($2 million) for Kerry Road - Stage 2.

"The support we receive from other levels of government stretches our money further and means we can achieve more," Mayor Christensen said.

"Construction costs are skyrocketing across the board so having extra funds injected is greatly appreciated to help us improve our important infrastructure within the timeframes expected by the community."

The LRCI Program supports local Councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about the 2022-2023 Budget at www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/2022-2023-budget