FLOOD DAMAGED ROADS

100 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (31 July 2007). How will the $23.5 million committed to repairing flood damaged roads be spent in 2007-08 and what repairs have already occurred as a result of the $6 million already spent in 2006-07?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy): I provide the following information:

During 2007-08, the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) intends to undertake the following works:

On the Sealed Road Network

Construction of four new major floodways to replace those lost around Hawker.

Continue to repair damage caused to floodways and repair shoulder scouring and damage across the road network.

Continue to repair scours to sides of creeks and levee banks and install scour protection in the form of large rocks.

Continue to repair scour damage around culverts and undertake scour repairs around bridge structures.

Stabilise remaining sections of road pavement that were weakened due to water infiltration.

Unsealed Road Network

Undertake stabilisation works at unsealed floodways and scour repairs to side drains where they match into creek alignments at floodways.

Replace rubble on unsealed roads washed away during the event.

Repair scour damage around culverts, grids and in creeks using large rocks and concrete.

Remove silt build-up around creeks and floodways.

DTEI will continue to monitor the progress of the works against the budget allocation.

To date, DTEI has undertaken $6.4 million in repair works. The following is a brief summary of the current status of the works program.

Sealed Road Network

Floodways—major damage

Significant damage was caused to four floodways:

Hawker—Orroroo Road, at Yanyarrie Creek and Wirreanda Creek (Cradock)

Wilpena—Hawker Road, at the Wonoka Creek and 1km north of the Hawker Airstrip

Demolition works and construction of temporary detours have been completed. A detailed drainage assessment has been undertaken by an independent expert and the designs for replacement structures are due in August 2007.

Floodways—minor damage

Damage to varying degrees was incurred to the majority of floodways in the Flinders Area, in particular on the Leigh Creek-Hawker Road, Wilpena-Hawker Road and Hawker Orroroo Road. In February 2007, work crews commenced repairs, mostly scour and concrete repairs and it is estimated that it will take 12 months to complete these works.

Shoulder Scour—major damage

Major scour damage incurred to shoulders across the road network, with sections up to 0.6 metres deep washed away. The majority of damage occurred on the Eyre Highway, Stuart Highway, Lincoln Highway, Iron Knob-Whyalla Road, Leigh Creek-Stirling North Road, Wilpena-Hawker Road and Hawker-Orroroo Road. Major repairs on these roads have been completed.

Shoulder Scour—minor damage

Minor scour damage incurred in hundreds of locations across the network; work crews are systematically working through roads to undertake repairs.

Scour to road embankments

Significant scour incurred to large road embankments on Stuart Highway and Roxby Downs-Pimba Road. The majority of these repairs have been completed.

Scour to sides of creeks and levee banks

Significant scour damage was incurred along the edges of creeks and existing levee banks, due to the high intensity and velocity of the creek flows, particularly along the Leigh Creek-Stirling North Road and Hawker-Orroroo Road. In a number of locations the extent of scour was such that it impacted the integrity of the adjacent road. Work is underway to reshape these areas, install a protective fabric and place large rocks, in excess of 0.7 metres in diameter. This work will reinstate the shape of the creek edge or levee bank and provide a protective barrier against future scour in these areas. Work is continuing.

Scour around culverts

Scour occurred around many culverts in the Flinders Ranges area. A small work crew is systematically working across the network to undertake repairs.

Weakened Road Pavements

A number of sections of road pavement were weakened due to water infiltration. A one kilometre section of the Hawker-Orroroo Road has been stabilised using cement and resealed. Other sections will be addressed during 2007-08.

Unsealed Roads

DTEI's work crews moved across the unsealed road network and made temporary repairs to scours in the road pavements and unsealed floodways to allow access to remote communities.

Work crews have now commenced undertaking final repairs, which include replacing sheeting material on roads where it was washed away, repairing and stabilising floodways and undertaking repairs to side drains that were badly scoured. Repairs to road embankments and the sides of creeks using large rock as detailed above is also being undertaken.