Sandy Creek saga returns to the deep end

A SECTION of the Cramsie Road was inundated with water once more last week when the Thomson River broke its banks, concerning local residents who have battled with the Department of Main Roads for years to have the low-lying Sandy Creek crossing reconstructed.

Mayor Pat Tanks was upset that both the local sale yards and ‘Sandalwoods’, a popular housing estate, became almost inaccessible to residents.

“This has been an ongoing saga since 2002,” Cr Tanks said.

“The State government needs to come out and spend some money on this road.
“Their reason for doing nothing has always been that there is no funding for it, but I think they need to find some.”

Cr Tanks said he had sent letters to Premier Peter Beattie and the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, about the issue, and was determined to continue highlighting the importance of it in the future.

“This issue needs to be addressed and resolved now,” he said.

Cr Tanks said the issue could have catastrophic consequences especially with thousands of cattle being trucked to the saleyards every week for regular sales.

“If that many cattle were trapped at the saleyards, the logistics of feeding them would be enormous,” he said.

“There are also about 100 people living at ‘Sandalwoods’, and those driving this route from Muttaburra, who would be affected by major flooding of the road.”

Sandalwoods’ residents and other locals often need to use detours when flooding of the crossing occurs such as cutting through ‘Longway’.

“‘Longway’ is the only real alternative to the Sandy Creek crossing,” property owner Rosemary Champion explained.

“Although we’re glad to help out in this situation, the flooding of the crossing becomes a real issue for us too.
“If the road is to be effective, it needs to be raised at least one metre.
“It is already so badly constructed and water only damages it even more.
“This is a critical issue and if we get large amounts of rain, no one will be going anywhere.”

Saleyards manager Johnny Egan was especially concerned that while road trains might be able to drive through high levels of water on the road, the water could cause serious damage.

“Truck bearings can become very hot while travelling and when water gets sucked into these seals, you’ve potentially got quite a big maintenance issue,” he said.

“This is why a lot of truck drivers don’t like to drive through water.”

Local Member for Gregory, Vaughan Johnson, said he would discuss the Sandy Creek crossing issue with Federal Minister for Transport Warren Truss at this weekend’s central council meeting of the Nationals Queensland.

“I’m approaching Mr Truss about the issue because I really want to highlight its importance,” he said.

“It’s about time that we saw some responsible leadership on this issue from both the State and Federal governments instead of it being put in the too hard basket.
“Longreach Shire Council really needs to be given support some support, as does the cattle industry as a whole, which is one of the biggest wealth-earners for the district.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Main Roads said while the Department had spoken extensively with Longreach Shire Council about potentially upgrading the Sandy Creek crossing, Council had agreed that ongoing work to improve the gravel and extend the seal on Cramsie Road was the highest priority for the road.

“Upgrading the crossing would have meant this ongoing work would have had to be put on hold,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson explained that the Cramsie Road was part of the local roads of regional significance network and priorities on these roads were decided by the Outback Regional Road Group.

“The State Government contributes $2.8 million a year to the Outback Regional Road Group to go towards high-priority road projects in the region,” the spokesperson said.

“Over the next three months, the road group will consider which projects to direct their funding to.”

However, Cr Tanks is strongly of the opinion that the Cramsie Road was not included by Council as a road of regional significance in the Roads Alliance listing.

“It is a State Government controlled road,” he insisted.

“Given that works on it were commenced by the State Government and were not completed to the appropriate standards, it is incumbent that the State Government complete this upgrade.
“Council is prepared to work with the State and federal Governments to achieve a solution to this issue which will allow the Cramsie road to remain open and not cut off fromboth the Muttaburra community and the residents of Sandlewoods Estate.”