Whitsunday motorists were battling heavy rain and potholes last week during the unseasonal deluge which saw 47.2 millimetres fall in Proserpine in a 24 hour period.
As usual, Hamilton Plains was a source of frustration with un-seen potholes causing flat tyres in multiple vehicles, resulting in a hazardous situation when they pulled over to conduct repairs.
One local resident, Rachel Bott, said that she was driving home in the dark when a pothole appeared from nowhere.
“It was very dark, and I didn’t see it,” she said.
“I wasn’t going fast; I literally didn't see it until I fell in it - there were at least four of us who had wrecked tyres at the same time.”
Some emergency vehicles pulled over to check on everyone’s welfare and when a paramedic came by she informed Ms Bott that she had passed the sight four times that day and the pothole had been there each time.
This created some frustration for Ms Bott who believes that Council should have sent someone out to fix the potholes earlier, before it got dark.
“The paramedic already knew it was there, so she was able to avoid it in the dark – the rest of us had no idea it was there,” said Ms Bott.
“It was a very dangerous situation, and I didn’t want to even attempt to change my tyre without someone watching out for me – I could have got run over!
“I will be contacting TMR, Hamilton Plains is such a disgrace.”
A Whitsunday Regional Council spokesperson said that while TMR are ultimately responsible for most local roads, including Hamilton Plains, it is Council that repair the potholes after a heavy rain event.
“Council roads crews from our depots at Proserpine, Bowen and Collinsville were working in the rain to repair multiple potholes across over 1200 kilometres of roads including Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Bowen, Collinsville, Mt Julian, Lethebrook and Dingo Beach,” said the spokesperson.
“Council crews are out and about during the rainfall event to undertake urgent repairs, but it is TMR is responsible for the standard of Hamilton Plains road.”
Caption:
Council road workers fixing the potholes
The pothole that gave Ms Bott a flat tyre
