The quarrying and extractive industry could be boosted after a suite of new construction works were announced across the Gold Coast.
The announcement comes after the area battled extensive and severe flooding across 2021-22, affecting the Gold Coast as well as New South Wales’ northern rivers.
The government is specifically targeting several state roads in the Gold Coast to protect them from future flood damage and other severe weather events.
The works, which include rehabilitation, concrete batter protection and drainage improvements, are expected to take 12 months inclusive of removal works and reinstating soil.
It comes after new research from the University of South Australia into the concrete batter using waste treatment sludge showed promising results for improving the substance’s resilience and longevity.
Betterment works will be delivered in conjunction with repairs on:
- Gold Coast-Springbrook Road
- Beechmont Road
- Currumbin Creek-Tomewin Road
- Nerang-Murwillumbah Road
- Beaudesert-Nerang Road
- Tamborine-Oxenford Road
- Currumbin Creek Road
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the works will benefit the Gold Coast in the long-term.
“These works will mean Gold Coast roads are better able to withstand severe weather events, reducing future impacts on the community and minimising recovery bills when the next disaster strikes,” Minister Bailey said.
“To help reduce the risk of road networks being impacted at this scale in the future, we are investing in widespread drainage improvements to reduce overtopping and protect the road during heavy rainfall, full-width road rehabilitation instead of patching smaller sections of damage and installing concrete batter protection to protect against scouring on shoulders.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the works to repair the roads to a more resilient standard would help minimise subsequent disaster damage and disruptions to the travelling public.
“The series of back-to-back rainfall events the Gold Coast experienced last year resulted in major landslips, embankment failures, road and bridge damage across the state-controlled road network,” Minister Watt said.
“We’re glad to see these significant reconstruction projects underway across the region, and we are doing our part to make sure that those travelling on our roads can do so safely all-year-round.”
.png){kind=small}
