SIGNIFICANT rainfall on November 28 caused flooding along Adelong Avenue, it is something that happens after every ‘significant fall of rain’.
Half-a-million-dollars was set aside in this financial year by the Ipswich City Council to upgrade the culvert on Adelong Road as the first step towards a road upgrade, which is supposed to begin sometime after June 2024.
But residents have expressed their frustration that almost six months into this financial year, flooding is still occurring.
Deputy Mayor Russell Milligan said work on the project began on November 14 and would include the removal and replacement of the existing stormwater culverts adjacent to Adelong Avenue Reserve, at the eastern end of the road close to Kavanagh Street. The work is anticipated to continue through to March 2024.
“The works are on target to meet planned milestones prior to the Christmas-New Year break and further work will resume immediately afterwards,” he said.
“Drainage work will continue, as scheduled in January through to a planned completion in March and council cannot work any quicker than it is to address these significant issues.”
He added that in Council’s three-year Capital Works Program funding was forecast for further road rehabilitation of Adelong Avenue.
But Adelong Avenue resident Steve Applegate says he would like to see “something done now, to stop the flooding”.
“I have raised my concerns with the council many times, and as far as I can see the works that are currently taking place are not helping with any of the flooding issues,” he said.
“During the end of November when the area was impacted by a decent downpour of rain, the water banked up all along Adelong Avenue and was forced into some resident’s yards.
“The council really need to address the drains as this is the main problem, water banks up and it has nowhere to go, therefore families are affected.
“It really is not fair on anyone who lives on Adelong Avenue.
“We have been waiting for so long for something to be done, and I would like to see the drains that run along Adelong Avenue dug out and worked on as soon as possible.”
Cr Milligan added that he understood the frustration … “but the long-term benefit will be enormous as this project will help maintain Adelong Avenue and reduce the impact of flooding along the road, once it is complete.”
