Whitsunday granted disaster funds after Ted Cunningham Bridge washes away

Emergency funding has been promised for the Ted Cunningham Bridge which washed away almost immediately after it opened after about 120mm of rain.

No Access: Ted Cunningham Bridge across the Bowen River

Disaster funds have been unlocked to help repair a $4.6 million bridge after large chunks washed away in 120mm of rain almost immediately after it opened.

The Ted Cunningham Bridge over the Bowen River, which connects the Whitsunday region towns of Bowen and Collinsville, had been open for less than a week when it sustained serious damage in flood waters towards the end of last year.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said the new funding, under joint state and federal Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, would support the Whitsunday Regional Council to recover from the severe weather event.

The amount of funding available has not been disclosed.

“Catchments were already saturated from the monsoonal activity towards the end of 2022, so when 120mm of rain fell over two days at the end of November water levels rose quickly,” Mr Ryan said.

“This resulted in significant infrastructure damage, particularly to the approaches to the Ted Cunningham Bridge over the Bowen River west of Collinsville.

“While the bridge has reopened to light traffic and an alternative route is in place, the people who rely on this vital freight route need repairs done as soon as possible.”

The Ted Cunningham Bridge has flooded near the Bowen River Hotel. Picture: Rachael Bowyer

Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the bridge’s closure had forced heavy vehicles and livestock transporters to divert “long distances due to weight limitations on alternative river crossings”.

“We are continuing to work with the Queensland Government to ensure the bridge is restored to its full operating capacity and that other damaged local infrastructure and community assets are repaired as quickly as possible,” Mr Watt said.

Previously only accessible by boat, the Ted Cunningham Bridge connected residents along Strathmore Road in the Leichhardt Range to Bowen and the Bruce Highway.

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

In the days after sections of the bridge were destroyed, Whitsunday region residents slammed the council for its “balls-up” recovery efforts.

Local Jim Hillier from Glenmore at Bowen River bridge.

Bowen River Hotel owner Clare Ringland said heavy machinery had been brought to the site but no one seemed clear on what to do.

Glenmore resident Jim Hillier claimed contractors had argued with the council to install two more spans but it “wouldn’t have it”.

“They made them dig it out and fill it up with crap and covered it with sheeting and it had no chance of surviving,” Mr Hillier said.

Burdekin MP Dale Last had also raised concerns about the region’s infrastructure.

“It’s an absolute disgrace with the resources and the produce that comes out of Central Queensland, that we are still driving on unsealed roads that are in such a poor state of repair,” Mr Last said.