Damaged roads being neglected

THE bulk of roads damaged in the 2010 and 2011 floods have been repaired but Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley feels not all roads are maintained as often as needed.

Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley. Picture: Jenna Cairney

THE majority of roads damaged in the 2010 and 2011 floods have been repaired but Southern Downs Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley feels not all roads are maintained as regularly as needed.

"Personally I think resources are stretched and they are playing catch-up to maintain the damaged roads," Cr Bartley said.

The unsealed section of the Condamine River Rd in Killarney has been in the spotlight several times in the past.

"During the 12 years that I have been in council the maintenance of that particular road has always been debated," he said.

The road doubles as a residential road and a tourist attraction used by both four-wheel drives and trail bikes.

Museum artist and sculptor Paul Stumkat lives and works on Condamine River Rd.

"There was data collected a couple of years ago," Mr Stumkat said.

"From memory I think they recorded 100-150 cars driving along the road on a busy weekend."

Mr Stumkat said the road was in a bad condition.

"We have to drive along it every day to take the kids to school," he said.

"It is the only road into town.

"It has been three years since the road was graded.

"We used to have a grader come along every year and level out the potholes.

"There is a section in the middle that is just like a 4WD track now. It never used to be like that."

Cr Bartley said improvements could be made.

"I personally think the road is entitled to the same maintenance regime it had before the flood events of 2010 and 2011," he said.

"The residents are entitled to that."

Cr Bartley said there were future inspections on the books.

"I believe there is a future inspection planned as part of routine work," he said.

However he was unable to say whether it was in the near or distant future.

Mr Stumkat said it was hard to put into words just how bad the road was.

"There are some dangerous sections," he said.

To get a better idea The Daily News took a trip along the road.

The trip did not last long as part of the road was washed out, but we were on the road long enough to experience its pothole-riddled, rocky state.

Cr Bartley urged residents to report potholes and damaged roads to their local councillors.

He said the council would inspect roads that were reported as dangerous.

Originally published as Damaged roads being neglected