17 February 2023
Southern Downs Regional Council is aware of ongoing comment in the media about planned works on the Condamine River Road at Cambanoora Gorge in Killarney and would like to assure the community of the sound processes that have been followed rather than the assertions that have been reported in recent media.
Council continues to support a long-term solution for the maintenance of the Condamine River Road and the preservation of Cambanoora Gorge, as is evidenced by the exhaustive engagement processes with multiple stakeholders over the past several years. Council is committed to providing sustainable solutions and will follow the best practices during the construction phase to respect processes, people, flora and fauna as advised by our government stakeholders.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi shares the community’s concerns over the preservation of the history, cultural and natural beauty of Cambanoora Gorge.
“It is a significant natural asset and a place of beauty magnified. It should be shared and enjoyed for what it is and not used as a playground for thrill seeking four wheel drive enthusiasts. Some of these 4x4 road users come without fear of confrontation because the gorge is quite isolated. I applaud our local Queensland Police Service for doing their best to prosecute these illegal activities,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“Southern Downs does, however, offer many other suitable recreational spots for those who enjoy challenging four wheel drive experiences in settings that welcome their skills in the sport. But the fact remains that the public road that traverses Cambanoora Gorge is not a four wheel drive enthusiast track.”
Condamine River Road provides public access to the gorge as it traverses the Condamine River no less than 14 times. It is a crucial piece of infrastructure that provides the only public access in and out of the gorge and the complexities around the maintenance and repair of the public road, particularly in the face of adverse weather events, has formed part of many reports over the years.
Condamine River Road gives access to those who live and work in Cambanoora Gorge. Local families who are engaged in generational farming or eco-tourism rely on the road and as such, it must be maintained by Council for both residents and visitors alike.
“The longer it takes to decide upon a permanent, long-term solution to make the public road safe for residents and visitors alike, the more difficult the road will become to traverse,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“No action will eventually result in further erosion of the bed level that will result in Condamine River Road being permanently closed at normal river height levels.
“Previous Councils dealt with this issue in the best way they could with the resources they had, and they too tried to find a balance somewhere in between the emotive, the possible, the impossible and the very real concerns of the residents of the gorge.”
In 2020, this Council set out to find that balance and established the Condamine River Road Working Group (CRRWG). The purpose of the group was to consider the information that had been collected, review studies and explore any common ground between the parties who were attending meetings to talk passionately about the potential solutions.
Consultation included an extensive process of community engagement, and after years of studies and reports presented to Council, there was once again opportunity for residents of the gorge, community members and interested parties to present and debate solutions.
The CRRWG held several open meetings with the last being in July 2021. Council records show that at the final meeting of the CRRWG the group identified and agreed upon the four crossings to be progressed for engineering design, funding application and government approval.
In August 2021, the CRRWG was put on pause with Council remaining in contact with landholders, residents and other stakeholders as required while officers started to piece together funding applications, technical advice and engineering solutions to ultimately bring a report to Council.
Years of engagement and discussion culminated in the Council Report Condamine River Road, Killarney being brought to Council on 15 December 2021. A Council decision was made without division and resulted in Council Resolution 13.5 Condamine River Road, Killarney 15 December 2021.
The resolution provided 16 points, including:
9. Proceed with the design of a bed level crossing for Long, Mill and 2nd Crossings in a bid to obtain external funding such as Betterment funding under QRA arrangements.
10. Maintain the other crossings “as is” until they can be reviewed by the working group twelve months after the last crossing listed in 9 above has been constructed.
11. Proceed with a design for a bed level crossing at the upstream side of Blackfellow Gully.
In February 2022, Council was successful in securing substantial funding for the upgrade of four of the Condamine River Road crossings through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Thanks to $1.252 million jointly funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for the Southern Queensland Severe Weather 20-31 March 2021, plus approximately $752,000 from the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme and Council, a contractor has been appointed and works can commence on the four identified priority crossings.
Following drought breaking rains and three consecutive floods in 2022 which further impacted the condition of Condamine River Road, Council officers can finally mobilise plans to commence works.
Mayor Pennisi said he congratulates all involved.
“I congratulate this Council and our officers for having the courage to act on the advice they received,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“Unfortunately, there are times when, irrespective of the decision or suggestions made, some will be happy and others will refuse to accept the democratic process and the final decision.”
On 7 February 2023, Council issued a media release proving more information on the next steps in the Condamine River Road plan, which can be viewed online at https://bit.ly/3JHJ5Qp.
Last edited date 17 Feb 2023