Residents share infrastructure discontent as Youngs Crossing Road floods causing traffic pain

Frustrations are rising along with the water levels as residents in a fast-growing suburb north of Brisbane are forced to battle around the closure of a major thoroughfare in the area again.

RESIDENTS want to know why emergency services are still impacted by the flooding of an important thoroughfare road north of Brisbane.

Youngs Crossing has been cut off again after Seqwater opened the gates

Federal Government budgets $7.5 million to upgrade Youngs Crossing Road

Government and council at odds over plans for the proposed Youngs Crossing Road upgrade

As onlookers gathered to observe Youngs Crossing Rd under flood this morning there was palpable frustration in the air after “30 years of promises” for a bypass.

After around 70mm of rainfall over 24 hours Seqwater released water from North Pine Dam at 9am this morning flooding the road.

Donna Young shares her frustrations as Youngs Crossing Road floods. Picture: Marcel Baum

“We’ve been living in the area for 30 years and for 30 years they have been promising a bypass,” Joyner resident Greg Young said.

“This is a major thoroughfare now to the north so this afternoon Strathpine will be a carpark if this is still closed.

“This is also a thoroughfare for police and ambulance services so if you have an issue just up in Joyner they now have to go through Lawnton.

“So this is actually a major impost on traffic and building this overpass would be a significant piece of infrastructure which was promised by Peter Dutton in the last federal election.”

Youngs Crossing Road closed this morning. Picture: Marcel Baum

Mr Young said the area had a history of flooding which worried locals.

“In the last flood in 2010 the water was right up to the gates there which hadn’t been built then,” he said.

“And the Pony Club here on our right hand side that was completely under and up there on the hill, the water was about half a metre from that house’s back fence.

“And it also took out the Petrie Bridge.”

Waters surge at a flooded Youngs Crossing Road. Picture: Marcel Baum

Donna Young shared her husband’s frustration.

Mrs Young said the problem was only becoming more pronounced as the area grows in population, while infrastructure spending lagged.

At the time of publication the road was still closed.

Seqwater and Moreton Bay Regional Council could not say when it would reopen.

“There are a number factors which contribute to road closures at Youngs Crossing during and after rainfall events,” an Seqwater spokesman said.

Youngs Crossing Park under water. Picture: Marcel Baum

“The crossing is at the juncture of two waterways, Sideling Creek and North Pine River (which receives some flows from North Pine Dam), so large rainfall received in either of these rivers could have an impact on the closure of the crossing.

“Like all un-gated dams, when Sideling Creek Dam reaches full supply level, the excess water will flow over the spillway and downstream to Youngs Crossing.

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“Approximately 70mm of rainfall over the last 24 hours has produced inflows into North Pine Dam, requiring Seqwater to make minor gate releases which began this morning.”

Federal Member for Dickson Peter Dutton last year committed $7.5 million in funds for improvements at the contentious road but said other parties had yet to join.

“The community just want this road fixed,” Mr Dutton said.

“There is money on the table and Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) will still not explain why they won’t floodproof the road.

“Call Mick Gillam the local councillor and tell him you want a commitment to get it fixed now.”

The council and state government last year said the funds were laughable as a long-term solution would require $100 million in spending.