Six Mile Bridge (Number 7) – Pomona – Kin Kin Rd
FLOODING CLOSURES
There have been concerns raised with regard to delays in the opening of bridges after flooding. I am currently seeking further clarification as to the possible delays and timing in the removal of signs at the Pomona end of the Stratford Park Six Mile Creek bridge on Louis Bazzo Drive and the signs at the Boreen Point end. We understand that this causes significant inconvenience for Boreen Point residents who need to travel to Pomona or Cooran.
CAPITAL WORKS
Whilst a Noosa Councillor in 2014 I met on-site with Tony Perrett MP and concerned residents to discuss the (Number 7) Six Mile Bridge history.
The result from this meeting lead to an interim safety response that included the current re-signing and sight age improvement by defoliation of adjacent bush. This was not a measure taken to replace what needed to be done on a larger scale.
NB – This bridge was originally a 2 lane carriageway – difficult to believe. As road usage increased, and road upgrades improved conditions, this bridge was remarked as a ‘one laner’ to improve safety, which based on the numerous incidents that have occurred since have shown it not to be the case.
Based on information obtained from Queensland Transport and Roads Investment (QTRIP)* reports.
The Six Mile Creek bridge project had an indicative total cost of:
· $22.7 million in 2010-11
· $23.2 million in 2011-12
· $23.2 million in 2012-13
Total estimated expenditure for the Six Mile Creek project was:
· $703 000, as at June 2010
· $1.2 million ($1,179,000), as at June 2011
· $1.2 million ($1,165,000), as at June 2012
Refer to attachment, Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2012-13 to 2015-16.
The 2012-13 to 2015-16 QTRIP report (the final report including references to the Six Mile Creek bridge and Noonan Range deviation projects), suggests that all remaining expenditure for the Six Mile Creek bridge project ($22.0 million) was indicative expenditure to occur beyond 2015-16.
* Source: Queensland. Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2010-11 to 2013-14, 2010, pp 80; 136.
These indicative amounts were based on works to widen and flood proof, as the inability of residents to access their children at school, work and shops during floods has been built into the equation. There has been debate over this at a local level, including that if drivers observed signage and road conditions there is not an issue.
All levels of government assess priority of based on a calculation. I have asked the Minister for Roads for this calculation which incorporates level of usage, load (the types of vehicles that use), incidents rates including those that involve police, injury or sadly death. This determines where the particular piece of infrastructure lies in the State wide list as ‘most urgent’.
For a funding bid to be successful (initially for design), it requires a combination of community agreement (collective power) and the calculus of urgency compared to other sites (based on incident rates/load etc.).
Currently there is a petition underway from residents that forms the ‘collective’ part of the equation, and this needs to be inclusive of the many users of this bridge. I have asked the Minister where this site sits in the calculus consideration. Once we have both of these in place, I will then put forward a bid in the 2019/2020 budget.