By JONATHON HOWARD
SPILL LINE Continued Page 5
CAPTION: (FRONT PAGE) Among those residents to attend a public meeting to discuss the state of Top Swanfels Road were Les Donger, Geoff Dodd, Kerry Nelson, Milton Rippingale, Warren Rock, Michelle Rock, Helen Hall, Elizabeth Saunders, Wayne Saunders, Chris Nelson, Monica Eastwell, Vince Eastwell, Melissa Eastwell, Noel Eastwell, Rick White and Annette White.
CAPTION: This map shows the future works required for Top Swanfels Road.
CAPTION: Top Swanfels Road residents are no strangers to potholes – but they’ve had enough.
RESIDENTS along Top Swanfels Road have slammed the Southern Downs Regional Council for what they say has been long-term neglect of the road’s maintenance.
More than 20 residents attended a public meeting at the start of Top Swanfels Road in Swanfels on Wednesday, 12 June, to voice their concerns and lead a push for council action.
Councillors Jamie MacKenzie and Cr Ross Bartley were also present during the public meeting.
The outcry follows a Free Times’ article (30 May) titled “residents plead for road fix”, which featured Dollar Bill Drive residents Wayne and Elizabeth Saunders.
The Saunders had called on council to resolve the dangerous state of Top Swanfels Rd.
Long-time Top Swanfels Road resident, Milton Rippingale, took Free Times’ editor Jonathon Howard on a tour of the road prior to the public meeting.
As well as discovering a range of potholes and deteriorating easements, the road also suffers from poor drainage and even light rain has washed away minor repairs.
Mr Rippingale said he also had concerns about council’s estimate for the number of residents living on Top Swanfels Road.
“Council had previously claimed there were only 24 or so rate payers living along Top Swanfels Road,” he said.
“But after a visit to the Lands Department I can confirm there are in fact 37 current rate payers living on the road.”
Mr Rippingale said residents were not asking for a bitumen resurface.
“All we’re asking for is that council monitor the road’s condition and undertake regular grading and servicing when it’s required – and not after residents file complaints,” he said.
Several residents said they were also insulted by council’s claim that Top Swanfels Road was a “low priority”.
Director of Engineering, Peter See, previously said the road was a low priority for the council due to a low traffic count and would require an estimated $3 million to restore the road to its pre-flood condition.
Mr See said residents were entitled to their opinions and has attempted to put concerns at ease by presenting a map of road repairs, which will progress once funding was approved.
However, Mr See said unfortunately the council’s hands were tied as it attempts to repair a backlog of urgent road maintenance across more than 3000km of council roads.
“Council has released a maintenance map of Top Swanfels Road where areas have been identified as needing road maintenance,” Mr See said.
“The $3 million estimate is currently awaiting approval with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
“It is unknown when the approval will be granted and there is no guarantee that the full amount will be approved.”
