Locals furious at Bowen River bridge disaster

Residents have been left stranded after a bridge which was only officially opened a week ago was washed away after only 80mm of rain. Now they are demanding answers. See the council’s response

Locals say they are outraged at Whitsunday Council for not heeding their warnings about engineering plans for a bridge that washed away in flood waters leaving them stranded.

“We knew it was going to happen because they only put dirt and rocks there,” Hells Gate local Michelle Howard said.

“You didn’t have to be Einstein to see what was going to happen.”

Officially opened by the council a week ago, the newly constructed Ted Cunningham bridge over the Bowen River was hit by rising flood waters after only 80mm of rain in a 24 hour period, the Bureau of Meteorology reported.

No Access: Ted Cunningham Bridge across the Bowen River

Glenmore farmer Jim Hiller said Council were now “ducking for cover” since the disaster.

“I talked with the contractors and the pylons are 4 metres deep in the centre here. This part won’t go anywhere.

“They wanted to put two more spans to hit the rock up there but the council wouldn’t have it.

“They made them dig it out and fill it up with crap.

“It had no chance of surviving. None.

“And now council want nothing to do with it,” he said.

Jim Hillier from Glenmore at Ted Cunningham Bridge.

Previously only accessible by boat, the new bridge connects residents along Strathmore Road in the Leichhardt Range to Bowen and the A1.

The bridge also provides access to the heritage-listed Bowen River Hotel on Strathmore Station, 34 kilometres from the mining town of Collinsville.

Signage on the way to the Ted Cunningham Bridge.

Bowen River Hotel manager Clare Ringland agrees the council cut corners resulting in a substandard design.

“They should have put another span in and it wouldn’t have washed away,” Ms Ringland said. “And now it’s all gone.”

“They only opened it on Saturday, but it’s been operating since February and it’s been good.

Cut off from town: Manager of the Bowen River Hotel Clare Ringland

Ms Ringland said the new bridge had increased customers to the pub with the ease of access making it more likely for them to return.

“If they had done the approach properly it would have handled the flood, there wouldn’t be a problem would there?”

COUNCIL RESPONDS TO RESIDENTS’ CONCERNS

A spokesperson for Councillor Jan Clifford provided a written update for residents on Friday.

“The contractor will be visiting site tomorrow Saturday 3 December 2022, and the engineer will arrive Monday to undertake the full assessment. When that assessment is complete, we will be able provide further information and notify the community accordingly.

“Council has received calls from some residents impacted by the closure, and we encourage anyone with enquiries to call council on 1300 972 753.”