townsville northern approaches flood mitigation
DESCRIPTION
TOWNSVILLE NORTHERN APPROACHES FLOOD MITIGATIONTRANSCRIPT
FUNDING SUBMISSION
TOWNSVILLENORTHERN APPROACHESFLOOD 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
TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN APPROACHES UNDER STRESS
THE SOLUTION: NEW BRIDGES FOR TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN APPROACHES
ENSURING ACCESS FOR THE NORTHERN BEACHES
THE NORTHERN BEACHES TOWNSVILLE’S GROWTH AREA
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FUTURE GROWTH
PROJECT COST
PROJECT TIMING
PROJECT FUNDING
CONTENTS
TOWNSVILLENORTHERN APPROACHESFLOOD MITIGATION
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’S NORTHERN APPROACHES
UNDER STRESS
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.
THE SOLUTION: NEW BRIDGES FOR TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN APPROACHES
TOWNSVILLENORTHERN APPROACHESFLOOD MITIGATION
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.
ENSURING ACCESS FOR TOWNSVILLE’S NORTHERN BEACHES
Current Development Proposed Development
Total lots approved or proposed - 20,850 (approx.)
AIRPORT
BOH
LE RIVER
< NORTH TO CAIRNS
TOWN COMMONCONSERVATION PARK
MOUNTLOUISA
5
6
13
9
4
3
1112
10
2
1
87
1514
BLACK RIV
ER
TOWNSVILLE CBD > WOOLCOCK STREET
INGHAM ROAD BLAKEY’S CROSSING
DALRYMPLE ROAD
1. 2,500 lots proposed
2. Sanctum 1,300 lots approved
3. Bushland Estate 214 lots approved
4. Bushland Grove 398 lots approved
5. Townsville Heights 440 lots proposed
6. Brendale 1,000 lots approved
7. Summerville Gardens 313 lots approved
8. Oakdale Heights 164 lots approved
9. Kingston Park 1,000 lots approved
10. Mt Low Development 3,000 lots proposed
11. Bushland Beach 3,000 lots approved
12. Forest Shores 303 lots approved
13. Stockland North Shore 4,200 lots approved
14. Greater Ascot 2,000 lots proposed
15. Liberty Rise 1,000 lots proposed
Proposed Upgrade Works
THE NORTHERN BEACHESTOWNSVILLE’S GROWTH AREA
TOWNSVILLENORTHERN APPROACHESFLOOD MITIGATION
Current Development Proposed Development
Total lots approved or proposed - 20,850 (approx.)
AIRPORT
BOH
LE RIVER
< NORTH TO CAIRNS
TOWN COMMONCONSERVATION PARK
MOUNTLOUISA
5
6
13
9
4
3
1112
10
2
1
87
1514
BLACK RIV
ER
TOWNSVILLE CBD > WOOLCOCK STREET
INGHAM ROAD BLAKEY’S CROSSING
DALRYMPLE ROAD
1. 2,500 lots proposed
2. Sanctum 1,300 lots approved
3. Bushland Estate 214 lots approved
4. Bushland Grove 398 lots approved
5. Townsville Heights 440 lots proposed
6. Brendale 1,000 lots approved
7. Summerville Gardens 313 lots approved
8. Oakdale Heights 164 lots approved
9. Kingston Park 1,000 lots approved
10. Mt Low Development 3,000 lots proposed
11. Bushland Beach 3,000 lots approved
12. Forest Shores 303 lots approved
13. Stockland North Shore 4,200 lots approved
14. Greater Ascot 2,000 lots proposed
15. Liberty Rise 1,000 lots proposed
Proposed Upgrade Works
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.
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
FUTURE GROWTH
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
COST
Subject to funding and weather, the construction works at the Bohle River Crossings (Woolcock Street and Dalrymple Road) will take 12 months to complete.
PROJECT
TIMING
TOWNSVILLENORTHERN APPROACHESFLOOD MITIGATION
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 [email protected] W www.townsville.qld.gov.au
PROJECT
FUNDING
TOWNSVILLENORTHERN APPROACHESFLOOD MITIGATION
TOWNSVILLENORTHERN APPROACHESFLOOD MITIGATION