A Gold Coast hinterland bridge may not just fail again a cyclone but cause even more damage

There are fears that after spending $15 million to repair the John Muntz Bridge after ex-tropical cyclone Debbie, it could fail again.

GOLD Coast City Council fears a hinterland bridge that was reopened after $15 million in repairs might not only fail again in the next cyclone, but the structure itself could be causing river bank erosion

Councillors have asked city CEO Dale Dickson to write to Transport Minister Mark Bailey to find out if engineering studies were undertaken before the bridge, damaged by ex-Cyclone Debbie in 2017, was repaired.

John Muntz Bridge after being reopened. Picture: John Gass

The council and the State Government are on a collision course about the future of the John Muntz Bridge, which is a critical link between the Gold Coast and Mt Tamborine.

The Newman government originally built the bridge to replace a causeway on the Coomera River at Oxenford. The Palaszczuk Government repaired it, but serious questions are being asked about whether the new link will survive the next cyclone season.

Area councillor William Owen-Jones got the backing of all councillors to request Mr Dickson ask Mr Bailey for any hydraulic reports undertaken before work began on fixing the bridge after ex-tropical cyclone Debbie “blew out a panel”.

MT TAMBORINE OPERATORS ANGRY OVER JOHN MUNTZ BRIDGE DELAY

Councillor William Owen-Jones. Photo: David Clark

The road connection to the bridge’s western side was eroded by floodwaters, along with up to 20m of council land which has been home to the relocated Oxenford Pony Club.

“What we have is effectively an embankment to the Coomera River, where in ordinary course the city would let our natural waterways work their way out,” Cr Owen-Jones told councillors.

He said many people relied on that road.

“They are very concerned what happened from ex-tropical cyclone Debbie may once again happen because Main Roads may or may not have done the work properly,” he said.

Theodore MP Mark Boothman, when asked if any “erosion controls” had been placed on the

river, posted on Facebook that “unfortunately there has been no change”.

Traffic back on the reopened John Muntz Bridge. Picture: John Gass.

“The State Government blames council as the erosion has incurred on council land. As we all know, if and when we have another major flood event, the state controlled road will be placed in jeopardy,” he posted.

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Cr Owen-Jones is concerned about the cost shift to council, reminding councillors about “the incredible cost” of protecting “two to three metres of very soft alluvial soil which will continue to go down the river”.

“So these are really just preliminary steps for the city to get a clearer idea from the State Government, regarding what level of detail it did in regards to the design of its bridge, and what damage that’s done to our adjacent parkland and also that embankment,” he said.

Finding a solution was “complicated” because if the bridge design resulted in increased water flow and erosion, reinforcing the northern bank could direct flood waters to the southern side where there was a state road.

Councillors have discussed possible bridge solutions in closed sessions where they were told it could involve a “considerable amount of money”.

Mayor Tom Tate asked if the pony club was in danger and admitted one possibility was to explore a better site.

“Let’s see what the minister has to say. Best outcome is they decide to defend the bank themselves, their asset,” Cr Tate said.

“This (the bridge) is their asset. They should defend their asset. That should be our position.”

A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said a hydraulics report was prepared for the bridge remediation works on May 11 last year and there was no evidence it or other TMR works had caused erosion downstream.