Road Network

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister update the house on the impact of recent floods on the state's road network?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (15:03): I thank the member for Newland for his question. As the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion was just speaking about, the effects of last week's heavy rain and flooding events were widespread. Significant damage was caused to parts of the road network, in particular. I have to say that the recovery efforts highlighted the importance of road and traffic management staff working with emergency service personnel across all service levels and also local government.

During the severe weather event, we were required, along with local government, to close approximately 60 council and arterial roads. Last Friday, I visited parts of the road network that were significantly impacted by this heavy rain and flooding, in particular Waterfall Gully Road and Gorge Road, which both suffered extensive damage. Works to repair damage began almost immediately once water had subsided and roads were safe to access, and both government officers and local government staff continue to work towards returning these roads to full access for the community. Field crews and engineers are continuing to undertake safety and condition assessments, repairing roads in an attempt to reopen them as quickly as possible.

Waterfall Gully Road suffered extensive structural damage in a number of locations, with vast sections of the road base being washed away, leaving the relatively thin road surface remaining clearly not suitable for general access. Further, some parts of Waterfall Gully Road were completely covered by rocks and other debris from First Creek. Stormwater drains were blocked early by debris, contributing to this flooding and also some inundation of properties. There is a significant amount of work still to do on this road. It has been reopened for local residents, and emergency services and utilities, but not for general access.

On Gorge Road, works are continuing after several land slippages that forced the road to be closed for several days. Rock slips and landslides have blocked the road at various locations between Castambul and Cudlee Creek, and transport department crews and contractors have been working to remove the mud and rocks from the road. I should also point out that on Gorge Road, even though some of the debris has been cleared from the road surface, both geologists and arborists need to come in and inspect the rock face as well as the vegetation along the top of those road cuttings to make sure that there is a low risk of further slippage of rock face material or major trees coming down from the top of those areas.

I am also aware of other roads across the state, although I have not yet had the chance to visit. The member for Morialta has written to me about Montacute Road. There is a significant amount of work to do by local government, but the government is prepared to assist them where we can, and on Langhorne Creek Road as well. Also, the member for Stuart has raised with me not only the condition of outback roads, which needed to be closed, but a very difficult and unfortunate break in the ability of the road closure signs to accurately communicate the status of those roads.

The impact of the damage, as I have outlined, has been widespread across the state. We will continue to work as quickly as possible to reopen those roads and ensure that they are safe, not just for affected residents or businesses but for general access across the state. I look forward to updating those members in particular and the house in due course.