Sunshine Coast gravel road to be sealed after federal funding grant

It has taken 30 years but Yandina Creek resident Angelo Reitano has finally cleared the air around his idyllic rural home.

Yandina Creek resident Angelo Reitano is thrilled the dirt road that leads to his property will be sealed after 30 years of campaigning to have the work done. Picture: Patrick Woods.

It has taken 30 years but Yandina Creek resident Angelo Reitano has finally cleared the air around his idyllic rural home.

Funding has been locked in to seal Zgrajewski Road, much to he and his wife Karen Reitano’s delight.

Mr Reitano said he knew of three serious crashes near his home since he bought a 1.6ha section of subdivided grazing land in 1986.

He said two of those were head-on and the other resulted in a car overturning close to his driveway.

“In the early days, it was a bit of a track … not much traffic,” Mr Reitano said.

“But as time has gone by I’ve contacted the council on numerous occasions as the road got busier, particularly in the mid 90s and later.”

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Dust pollution and being cut off by flooding were his main issues with the gravel thoroughfare.

Yandina Creek resident Angelo Reitano and federal MP Ted O'Brien in Yandina. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He said he had a previous commitment from a former councillor the road would be sealed but it did not happen.

“We’ve been pushing and pushing,” he said.

“The recent councillor (Maria Suarez) has been a great help.”

Mrs Reitano said dust was her major concern.

“It is bad for your health,” she said.

“It stains everything.”

Mr Reitano was grateful for a $3.2m federal funding contribution organised through Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien’s office.

“Without Ted’s help it would still be a gravel road for the next 30 years, who knows,” Mr Reitano said.

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said Sunshine Coast Council would fund the remaining $300,000 of the project cost.

“The deal has been sealed and by the end of October, the road will be sealed,” Mr O’Brien said.

“There will be about 14 jobs created through the period of construction.”

He said Mr Reitano brought the issue to the attention of his office in November last year.

“Unless local constituents and residents raise issues, candidly, often you don’t know about it,” Mr O’Brien said.

He said the funds were drawn from the government’s COVID response package.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast gravel road to be sealed after federal funding grant