While the road network in and around the Bundaberg Region has been severely impacted by the current flood, Bundaberg Regional Council is obliged to push ahead with repair work associated with the 2010/2011 floods.
Council’s Roads & Drainage portfolio spokesperson, Cr. Tony Ricciardi said Council had contracts in place covering $30 million worth of National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) work to be undertaken by contractors.
“This work is locked in and has to be delivered prior to June 30 to ensure Council complies with terms associated with NDRRA funding,” he said.
Due to the events that have unfolded over the past week or so, some scheduled work has had to be postponed to allow priority flood relief work to be undertaken.”
“While Council appreciates that there may be greater priorities in the community, the work scheduled under the NDRRA contracts must proceed to completion.”
Cr. Ricciardi said Council was endeavouring to meet its commitments established under the NDRRA guidelines while also meeting its community responsibilities in rebuilding road networks in the wake of this latest flood disaster.
The first steps towards sourcing funding to meet the repair bill associated with the damaged caused by this latest flooding event are being taken.
Cr. Ricciardi said officers from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) are in Bundaberg today to commence the first stages of damage assessment.
“The QRA will provide Council with guidelines regarding how the assessment will be undertaken and by which staff.”
Cr. Ricciardi said Council was currently engaged in some major repairs caused by last week’s floods. “Basically we are getting on with the work and worrying later about who will pay for it,” he said.
He said residents in areas where NDRRA work is scheduled to commence will be advised of the work and estimated timeframes for completion.
Date: 06-02-2013