TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES FLOOD MITIGATION

FUNDING SUBMISSION

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION

Dalrymple Road, Ingham Road and Woolcock Street are three of the principal routes linking the rapidly growing Northern Beaches community to Townsville’s CBD. However, each wet season, these important routes are vulnerable to flooding, in particular at Blakey’s Crossing on Ingham Road and the Bohle River Crossings of Dalrymple Road and Woolcock Street. This flooding, and the resultant road closures, cause significant delays, productivity loss and congestion on the surrounding road network.

Townsville City Council has developed a bridge and road reconstruction program to alleviate these critical flooding points and to keep Woolcock Street, Dalrymple Road and Ingham Road open to traffic throughout the entire wet season.

The Queensland Government has recognised the importance of these major access routes, committing $12 million to flood mitigation work at Blakey’s Crossing on Ingham Road. Townsville City Council is seeking a further investment of $117 million from the Queensland Government to ensure the full development of the proposed $129 million flood mitigation program, thereby enabling a new level of year-round access and safety for Townsville’s Northern Beaches community.

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION

CONTENTS TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN APPROACHES UNDER STRESS

THE SOLUTION: NEW BRIDGES FOR TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN APPROACHES

PROJECT TIMING

PROJECT FUNDING

ENSURING ACCESS FOR THE NORTHERN BEACHES

THE NORTHERN BEACHES TOWNSVILLE’S GROWTH AREA

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT FOR FUTURE COST GROWTH

TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN APPROACHES

UNDER STRESS

As the population of Townsville’s Northern Beaches community grows, the disruptions caused by flood-induced road closures are eroding local amenity and economic productivity. Three critical flood points along Townsville’s northern approaches are located at the Bohle River, on Woolcock Street and Dalrymple Road, and at Blakey’s Crossing, on Ingham Road.

Bohle River Crossing – Woolcock Street The Woolcock Street crossing of the Bohle River lies along one of Townsville’s busiest access routes from the north. Woolcock Street previously formed part of the old Bruce Highway route and heavy traffic flows has made repair of its crossing of the Bohle River long overdue. In 2012, this four-lane section of Woolcock Street will cater for more than 35,000 vehicles per day.

At present, Woolcock Street crosses the Bohle River using separate bridges of different levels. The two inbound lanes are supported by a 9 metre bridge structure, whilst the two outbound lanes utilise a low lying bridge (5.8 metres). The lower outbound bridge is prone to flooding during North Queensland’s wet season.

As a consequence, the outbound lanes of the lower bridge have experienced closures of up to one week during wet seasons over the past four years. When these outbound lanes are closed, traffic is diverted onto the higher inbound bridge, providing single lane usage of the road. Some of the traffic load, including heavy vehicles, attempt to utilise alternative routes, spreading congestion and increasing road damage to the network.

Bohle River Crossing – Dalrymple Road Dalrymple Road provides further access for residents travelling between Townsville’s CBD and the Northern Beaches area. It is a primary transport link to the newly developing residential communities at Greater Ascot and Cosgrove and, as such, Dalrymple Road’s importance as a major arterial route will intensify over the next decade.

There is currently no bridge at Dalrymple Road and the crossing of the Bohle River is made via a low level causeway. The result is severe susceptibility to flooding during the wet season, often leading to prolonged closures. The Dalrymple Road crossing has been closed for each of the past four years for periods ranging from one week to a month, exacerbating traffic congestion and transit times between Northern Beaches suburbs and the CBD. Blakey’s Crossing The Blakey’s Crossing section of Ingham Road was designated as a local council responsibility by the Queensland Government following cessation of its use as part of the Bruce Highway. It provides access from Woolcock Street to Townsville’s major industrial area of the Bohle, Mount St John and Garbutt industrial estates. Ingham Road is also used by many northern commuters as an alternative route to Townsville’s CBD. Every year, during North Queensland’s wet season, Blakey’s Crossing is prone to flooding. The stretch of road can often be closed for six weeks. Even during minor flooding, Townsville City Council is obliged to close the road, as the surface is at risk of substantial damage from heavy vehicle traffic. The result of the road’s closure is even greater traffic loads on Woolcock Street, and other alternative routes, leading to a loss of connectivity for Townsville’s largest industrial precinct.

Townsville City Council is therefore requesting the Queensland Government’s support to construct vital flood-mitigation infrastructure for these northern approaches.

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION

THE SOLUTION:

NEW BRIDGES FOR TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN APPROACHES Townsville City Council has developed a bridge and road reconstruction program to secure wet season access along Woolcock Street, Dalrymple Road and Ingham Road.

Bohle River Crossing – Woolcock Street The Woolcock Street crossing upgrade includes the construction of two new bridges for the outbound lanes. The proposed bridges would be 140m and 90m long, stretching over the Bohle River and the Bohle River bywash area. The bridges require a 14m wide deck to accommodate three lanes. The solution also includes a significant amount of road and channel works, including table drains and culverts to maintain local drainage flow patterns along the embankment.

Bohle River Crossing – Dalrymple Road The proposed solution for the Dalrymple Road Crossing is to undertake a full road reconstruction and new bridge works over the Bohle River and Bohle River bywash area. The upgrade project will consist of three major components: • construction of two bridges and road works, totalling approximately 450m of works, to provide two lane access; • significant earth works, including rock fill, select fill, asphalt, seals and pedestrian pavement works; and • channelling works, including table drains and culverts to divert and drain water during flooding.

Blakey’s Crossing – Ingham Road The proposed solution for Blakey’s Crossing is to undertake a full road reconstruction in order to prevent the road from flooding during regular wet season events. The project will consist of three major components: • the construction of two bridges and road works, totalling approximately 750m of works, to provide two lane access; • significant earth works, including rock fill, select fill, asphalt, seals and pedestrian pavement works; and • channelling works, including table drains and culverts to divert and drain water during flooding.

This combined mitigation strategy will reduce road maintenance costs, ensure the flow of freight and commercial vehicles, and alleviate the annual wet season disruptions experienced by Townsville’s Northern Beaches community.

ENSURING ACCESS

FOR TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN BEACHES Townsville’s Northern Beaches area is home to one of the fastest growing suburban populations in Queensland. It is anticipated that the area will account for approximately 60% of Townsville’s future population growth. By 2031, the Northern Beaches area is forecast to be home to 70,000 people, representing growth of around 9% per annum.

Population Forecast for Townsville’s Northern Beaches Area

Source: AECgroup

Population growth is being driven by greenfield residential development. Currently there are approximately 17,000 lots proposed or approved, with additional developments in the pipeline and considerable further land for expansion. There are also several major retail and service centres currently undergoing development and expansion, including: • North Shore Stocklands (50,000 Sqm GFA); and • Mount Low Retail Developments (10,000 Sqm GFA).

For new residents of the Northern Beaches, flooding on the primary access routes into Townsville is unacceptable. By 2031, the Northern Beaches population is anticipated to be similar in size to present day Rockhampton (QLD) or Bunbury (WA). Many of these residents will work in Townsville’s CBD or central suburbs, which requires a commute through Townsville’s Northern Approaches.

Without the development of the new bridge and reconstruction program, regular flooding of this route is set to escalate as a problem for Townsville’s growing population and economy.

THE NORTHERN BEACHES

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION

TOWNSVILLE’S GROWTH AREA

BLACK RIVER RIVER BLACK

11

12 12

11 11

TOWN TOWNCOMMON COMMON CONSERVATION CONSERVATIONPARK PARK

22 33 44

10 10

BOHLE RIVER BOHLE RIVER

<< NORTH NORTH TO TO CAIRNS CAIRNS

13 13

99

1.1.

2,500lots lotsproposed proposed 2,500

2.2.

Sanctum1,300 1,300lots lotsapproved approved Sanctum

3.3.

Bushland BushlandEstate Estate214 214lots lotsapproved approved

4.4.

Bushland BushlandGrove Grove398 398lots lotsapproved approved

5.5.

Townsville TownsvilleHeights Heights440 440lots lotsproposed proposed

6.6.

Brendale Brendale1,000 1,000lots lotsapproved approved

7.7.

Summerville SummervilleGardens Gardens313 313lots lotsapproved approved

8.8.

Oakdale OakdaleHeights Heights164 164lots lotsapproved approved

9.9.

10.

10.

Kingston KingstonPark Park1,000 1,000lots lotsapproved approved MtMtLow LowDevelopment Development3,000 3,000lots lotsproposed proposed

11.

11.

12.

12.

Bushland BushlandBeach Beach3,000 3,000lots lotsapproved approved Forest ForestShores Shores303 303lots lotsapproved approved

13.

13.

14.

14.

Stockland StocklandNorth NorthShore Shore4,200 4,200lots lotsapproved approved Greater GreaterAscot Ascot2,000 2,000lots lotsproposed proposed

15.

15.

Liberty LibertyRise Rise1,000 1,000lots lotsproposed proposed

Total Totallots lotsapproved approvedororproposed proposed- 20,850 - 20,850(approx.) (approx.)

55

Proposed ProposedUpgrade UpgradeWorks Works 66

88

AIRPORT AIRPORT

77 INGHAM INGHAMROAD ROAD

TOWNSVILLE TOWNSVILLE CBD CBD>>

WOOLCOCK WOOLCOCKSTREET STREET

MOUNT MOUNT LOUISA LOUISA 14 14

15 15 DALRYMPLE DALRYMPLEROAD ROAD

Current Current Development Development

Proposed ProposedDevelopment Development

BLAKEY’S BLAKEY’SCROSSING CROSSING

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR

FUTURE GROWTH Because of strong population growth, Townsville’s northern approaches are already among the city’s busiest road routes.

They provide the primary and most direct access to Townsville’s CBD and inner suburbs. Forecasts developed by the Townsville and Thuringowa Traffic Model (TTTM) indicate significant increases in traffic flows along these northern routes in the near future. In 2012, for instance, the vehicles using Blakey’s Crossing and the Bohle River Crossings at Woolcock Street and Dalrymple Road is anticipated to average 44,951 per day. This number will grow to 57,580 by 2016 and 65,784 by 2021. As a result, two additional lanes will be required along Woolcock Street to handle the greater traffic volumes.

Forecast Vehicles per day Using Bohle River Crossings and Blakey’s Crossing Description

2011

2016

2021

Vehicles per day

44,951

57,580

65,784

Source: TCC

These trends further drive the priority of undertaking flood mitigation work at Blakey’s Crossing and the Bohle River Crossing (Woolcock Street and Dalrymple Road).

Firstly, improved infrastructure is required to cope with traffic loads during the wet season.

Secondly, the bridge and road reconstruction work is a prerequisite for constructing additional traffic lanes along Woolcock Street. The current configuration does not allow this.

As Townsville increasingly shoulders a greater responsibility for managing the state’s population growth challenge, there is an opportunity for the Queensland Government to work with Townsville City Council and ensure that the city’s major infrastructure challenges are addressed.

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION

PROJECT

COST The Northern Approaches Flood Mitigation Project has been estimated by Townsville City Council to cost $129 million. Individual costings are provided in the table below.

Budget Estimate: Northern Approaches Flood Mitigation Description

2010 Estimate

Bohle River – Woolcock Street

$90,000,000

Bohle River – Dalrymple Road

$15,000,000

Blakey’s Crossing

$24,000,000

Total

$129,000,000

Source: TCC

PROJECT

TIMING Subject to funding and weather, the construction works at the Bohle River Crossings (Woolcock Street and Dalrymple Road) will take 12 months to complete.

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION

PROJECT

FUNDING The Queensland Government has previously committed $12 million to the upgrade solution for Blakey’s Crossing on Ingham Road. Townsville City Council is seeking a further investment of $117 million from the Queensland Government to ensure the full development of the proposed $129 million flood mitigation program.

Townsville City Council believes that the state’s contribution to these projects would be an excellent investment in urban accessibility, community safety, workforce productivity and the provision of infrastructure in a rapidly growing region. The investment would also confirm a practical commitment from the Queensland Government to assisting Townsville’s growth as the state’s second capital city.

For clarification of details or further information please contact: David Lynch Manager Economic Development and Strategic Projects Townsville City Council P 07 4727 9401 F 07 4727 9053 M 0428 730 626 E david.lynch@townsville.qld.gov.au W www.townsville.qld.gov.au

TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES

FLOOD MITIGATION