FLOODING of local roads this year has caused extensive damage.
This comes as ‘old news’ to residents like Tanya Bell who just want something done to make all road trafficable.
Tanya has lived in Rosewood for more than 30 years and during this time she has witnessed many weather events that have caused severe damage to the road surface and the road shoulders.
“You only have to drive through the main roads throughout Rosewood to see what I am talking about, and I have lost count when it comes to pot holes and patches that I feel the Ipswich City Council is not attending too,” she said.
“Simply patching the problem is not good enough, and I would like to see our local representatives walking the streets and holding community consultations to talk about the issues and to provide the community with updates and information regarding any works that are planned to fix the problems.”
Ipswich City Mayor Teresa Harding conceded that the flood events had caused significant damage.
“Since the February floods, council has repaired more than 3,000 potholes and has set aside a further $1 million to fix 6,000 potholes this financial year,” she said.
“While John Street and Rosewood Amberley Road are state roads, council announced funding in the 2022 – 2023 Budget for sections of Albert and William streets for road pavement reconstruction.
“Several sealed roads in Rosewood and the surrounding areas have also been identified for consideration under council’s dedicated Flood Recovery Program and a number of gravel roads in the Rosewood, Thagoona and Walloon areas were also impacted by the recent severe weather, with work to reinstate these roads well underway or already completed.
Division 4 Councillor Russell Milligan added that John Street and Rosewood Amberley Road are State Controlled Roads and as such council does not have any planned resurfacing works.
“Council has listed Albert Street between Rosewood Laidley Road to Waight Street for resurfacing, including repair-preparation works in 2022-2023,” he said.
“William Street, Rosewood is in the three-year capital works Program and work is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2023.
“Sections of Albert Street and Dellvene Crescent, Rosewood, have been identified for future pavement rehabilitation within the next three years of the program, but not budgeted for in 2022-23.
“Other roads, including sections of Rosewood Thagoona Road, Yates Street, Just Street and Royal George Lane in Rosewood, will be investigated for future pavement rehabilitation and reconstruction with priority yet to be confirmed, or funding allocated.
“Several other roads around Rosewood have been proposed for future resurfacing programs, but council has yet to endorse and budget for this work.
“We have directly and successfully advocated to the Queensland Government for the funding of the stormwater drainage design in Railway Street and John Street to enable the rectification of John Street to proceed.
“It was good to see the Queensland Government commit $3 million for the design work for John Street, however this has been allocated for 2025.”
Division 4 Cr Kate Kunzelmann added that the role of councillors was to familiarise themselves with all the issues in the Rosewood community and that includes the road network.
“Council has a thorough process and methodology for identifying where and when work needs to be carried out repairing our roads and once a road has been identified for resurfacing, officers inspect for damage such as potholes and pavement failures.
“Council collects current road condition data for its Pavement Management System and MapInfo Geographical Information System, the data includes roughness and rutting measurements and a visual assessment of road defects and the relative severity and extent of such defects.
“The defects are noted in accordance with national standards and sometimes an independent third party is engaged to undertake evaluations.
“Council will follow up reports from Rosewood motorists and pedestrians or the community about road damage and always values feedback so our road network can be maintained to the best standards.”
