State govt to blame for delays
AFTER months of frustration, residents may finally see repair works start on flood-damaged roads west of Calliope.
The roads were initially damaged by floodwaters at the start of 2011 and, as this damage wasn't addressed, heavy rains at the start of 2012 have worsened the condition.
Gladstone Regional Council's manager of work services Rob Huth said the council was just as frustrated as ratepayers about the delays.
"As part of the flood assessment, all applications for flood-damage repair work have to go through the State Government's Queensland Reconstruction Authority," Mr Huth said.
"The QRA will then determine if an application is viable and only then can contractors be engaged," he said.
The repair application for the roads west of Calliope was approved in February, but contractors have only been appointed in the past two weeks.
Mr Huth said previously, repairing flood-damaged roads was a more efficient process.
"In the past, (the) regional council could do the repair works and be reimbursed, however flood repairs are now handled at a state level," he said.
"We as council have done as much as possible to progress the works but due to the system, there's been a lag," Mr Huth said.
VDN, the contactors, were appointed last week to handle the repairs and council hopes works will start on priority sections by the end of May.
