Repairs to flood-damaged roads from September storms to costs taxpayers at least $14m
THE worst-ever storm and flood damage inflicted on the state’s road network during last month’s storms is set to cost taxpayers more than $14 million in repairs, the Government has warned.
THE worst-ever storm and flood damage inflicted on the state’s road network during last month’s storms is set to cost taxpayers more than $14 million in repairs, the Government has warned.
A further $3.5 million also will be spent fixing jetties along the state’s coasts in an effort to have them available in time for summer holidays.
A preliminary audit of the damage caused from the floods of September 14 and 18 identified 680 sites requiring repair.
But the Transport Department says not all repairs have been assessed and the “actual costs may be greater’’.
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan has urged motorists to “be patient, drive to the conditions and adhere to any temporary traffic signs’’ as repairs could take months.
“The flood and storm events of September were not only devastating for many South Australians whose homes, businesses and farms were damaged, the floods also caused some of the most significant and extensive damage ever seen to public infrastructure, particularly our road network, across the state,’’ he said.
“The (Transport Department) has been working tirelessly to reopen and repair our road networks and council staff and contractors have also been working extremely hard but, due to the size of the task, this is likely to take months.’’ Repair works were required across the state, particularly in the Mid North, Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula, and Kangaroo Island regions.
Produce losses across the Adelaide Plains region alone are estimated to be more than $20-$30 million as the total extent of damage statewide appears set to reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mr Mullighan warned many more damaged sections of road were expected to be identified. He said the most severely damaged thoroughfares included sections of Waterfall Gully Rd, Gorge Rd, Norton Summit and Old Norton Summit roads, Port Wakefield Rd and Montacute Rd.
Early estimates by SA Power Networks showed it would have to make about $2 million in compensation payments to about 6000 household and business customers who experienced extended power loss of more than 12 hours from outages between September 28 and October 1. The Guaranteed Service Level payments — for inconvenience due to an extended outage — are calculated and paid automatically by the company.
The RAA calculated it had more than 890 claims from the most recent storm event with a total damage bill of $4 million.