No action to be taken after a ‘minor’ rockslide blocked Pilbeam Drive, Rockhampton

A rockslide which caused rubble and boulders to block a road, requiring the help of the SES, council crews and police to clear, has been described by the council as “minor”.

SES, Council crews and police managed to clear the roadblock on the evening of February 15. Supplied: Elliot Hilse

Rockhampton Regional Council has described a recent rockslide that caused rocks, rubble and a huge boulder to fall onto Pilbeam Drive on Mount Archer blocking vehicle access as ‘minor’.
Councillor Marika Taylor said the rockslide, which needed the help of the SES, council crews and police to clear, did not require council to implement any measures to prevent it from happening again.
“The recent rockslide was minor and does not require additional measures at this time,” she said.
Cr Taylor said the recent event was not the first of its kind.
“It is believed the rockslide occurred as a result of recent rainfall and is the first incident of its kind since 2017 when Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused extensive damage,” she said.

“The 2017 event prompted significant rectification works and preventative measures to stabilise the slopes and included rock nailing, rock netting, road remediation and the installation and resurfacing of culverts.
“Council is monitoring conditions on Pilbeam Drive after a small rock slide occurred on Saturday evening, which briefly resulted in a road closure.
“Council crews, QPS and SES were quick to manage and clear the site.”

Cr Elliot Hilse posted photographs of the rockslide to Facebook and kept locals updated.

He posted initially that it would only be open for local residents and council would “try and get Pilbeam Drive open for everyone within the next few days, but the damage and risk of further rock slides will have to be assessed by our engineers first”.

“Wow, that’s a lot,” Catherine Gleeson-Cherry posted.

Margaret Balchin expressed concern for road users.

“Thank goodness no one was in its way when it fell,” she said.

Originally published as No action to be taken after a ‘minor’ rockslide blocked Pilbeam Drive, Rockhampton