30 May 2012

Rain has forced Council to stop work on Condamine Road at Howard.

The road had suffered badly in the heavy rainfall of the past two wet summers.

“Work started two weeks ago with surveying and the table drains made wider and deeper,” Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O’Connell said.

“The bitumen surface was then ripped up for the road to dry sufficiently to allow heavy vehicles on to the project without causing more damage.

“Unfortunately since the bitumen was removed it has continued to rain making the problem worse rather than letting the road dry out.”

The damage was being repaired as part of Council’s flood recovery project which is being funded under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.

“Council has not abandoned the project,” Cr O’Connell said.

“We are waiting only for the pavement to dry out enough to carry out the work safely and without causing more damage.

“How long we will have to wait depends on the weather.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more rain this week.

In the meantime, Council staff carried out maintenance work on the road to ensure it is useable.