Flooded roads wash away education

FIVE Rosedale students have missed 20 out of 23 days of school this year after the road they live on was destroyed by heavy rain.

The bank of Rothman Road has been washed away after recent rain. Picture: Tracy Knight

FIVE Rosedale students have missed 20 out of 23 days of school this year after the road they live on was destroyed by heavy rain.

Rothman Road resident Tracy Knight said she could not get her eight-year-old son to school due to washouts, potholes and flooding.

“It’s devastating that he is missing out so badly,” she said.

“I have spoken to the council every few days since this started, but they say that they can’t get any machinery in. If they can’t get in with a truck, how do they expect us to get out in a car?”

Mrs Knight said the problem had been ongoing.

“This road hasn’t been graded in four years,” she said.

Gladstone Regional Council spokesperson Cale Dendle said while the road had been scheduled for light upgrading this year, there was nothing that could be done to help residents at this point.

“It’s just like dozens of other roads around here,” he said.

“We have had guys out to inspect it but we can’t get heavy gear in. It’s a rural road and it’s subject to the weather. There is nothing we can do until the rain stops, and they are forecasting more rain so we don’t know what will happen.”

Mrs Knight said her son was starting to lost hope.

“He is at the point where he says, “why should I go back? I’m not smart enough to go to school’.”

The rain has caused part of the road to become a permanent dam runoff, with potholes, ruts, thick mud and creeks littering its length.

“I can’t take my child across that; it’s not safe,” she said.

“The amalgamation was meant to make things easier but it is just making things harder for people out of town.”

Mrs Knight said the road should have been fixed years ago.

“They never do anything to fix it,” she said.

Kellie Knight also lives on Rothman Road and said her two children were miserable at being kept away from school.

“Bree started prep this year and she was so excited, but she only got there for three days,” she said.

“Their teacher has been great at getting us some things for them to work on, but it’s not enough. Every day my kids are falling further and further behind.”

Originally published as Flooded roads wash away education