After a lengthy wait, works have now commenced to upgrade a 1.4-kilometre section of the Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road at Hamilton Plains, following years of lobbying by local government, state and federal representatives.
These works will improve flooding and drainage on the key arterial route connecting the Bruce Highway and Proserpine to Whitsunday towns including Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Jubilee Pocket and the port of Shute Harbour.
The upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments and has been a much needed upgrade to improve safety, reliability and accessibility.
The road is often flooded during wet season and during this time, residents can be cut off for multiple days, restricting access the Proserpine Airport and the local hospital.
The new upgrades will reduce disruptions from an average of 17 hours to less than one hour during a one in 10-year flood event, enhancing reliability and accessibility.
Major works between the Bruce Highway and Strathdickie Road will include raising the road level, widening the road and road shoulders, and installing larger culverts and better drainage to improve safety in this flood-prone area.
The new upgrades will reduce flooding time and allow residents to have continual access to the airport or hospital.
Early works including drainage improvements and bore relocation are already underway and full construction will be beginning in a few months.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg was in region last week and said the State Government was getting on with delivering the project for the local community.
“For far too long, this road has closed every time when this part of the world gets any significant rainfall, and we know it dislocates communities on the coast, like Airlie Beach, from Proserpine, where many of the key services, like the airport and the emergency accommodation is as well,” he said.
“We are really pleased to be able to get on with delivering this much needed upgrade. It's been planned for a long, long time, but early works have already started on site here, and we're focused with getting on with the job.”
Senator for Queensland Corinne Mullholland said the Australian Government was committed to funding projects that made a real difference in local liveability and these upgrades would enhance flood immunity.
“We know that it gets cut and it cuts a local community off from the airport, from the hospital, and from the schools,” she said.
“So this is about not only improving it for flood resilience, but it's also about improving community safety and community connectedness.”
State Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm emphasised the importance on getting the road fixed.
“Hamilton plains is a critical road for our local network here in the Whitsundays, but it also holds state significance for our tourism industry, for our agricultural and seafood industry, and most importantly, for our locals to get to and from their job, whether that be in the service industry or right through to the Bowen Basin and the resources sector.,” she said.
“This is about our government working in partnership with the federal government, the local government, to deliver for the people of the Whitsundays.”
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said the upgrades will see the road level risen and a boosted culvert capacity so water can move through much more effectively.
“It’s about building a stronger, smarter road that can handle the kind of rainfall we know comes every wet season,” he said.
“Every time Hamilton Plains floods, families are cut off from schools, people can’t get to the hospital, travellers can’t reach the airport, and businesses lose trade.
“By lifting the road and improving drainage, we’re reducing closures and keeping people moving safely.
“This is a major project, and it will take time to get right but once complete it will deliver lasting benefits for locals, visitors and businesses across the Whitsundays. It’s about building a safer, more resilient future for our community.”
Hamilton Plains upgrades have begun with construction beginning in a few months. Photo supplied
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg, Senator for Queensland Corinne Mullholland, Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins, and State Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm. Photo supplied
Hamilton Plains constantly floods in wet season and now it is getting its deserved upgrade. Photo sourced: Whitsunday Regional Council
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