EYES ON WEATHER RISKS
THE city’s most flood-prone roads have been revealed as Cairns braces for the next round of heavy rain.
According to Cairns Regional Council, they are:
■ Lower Freshwater Rd, Freshwater
■ Ryan Weare Park Bridge, Freshwater (Kamerunga Rd)
■ Peets Bridge, Goldsborough (Downing Rd)
■ Yarrabah Rd, East Trinity ■ Redlynch Intake Rd (Currunda Creek)
■ Holloways Beach Rd and Machans Beach Rd
■ Thomatis Creek Bridge (Captain Cook Hwy)
The council says there are also low-lying roads near the Barron and Mulgrave rivers and Trinity Inlet that can be inundated during heavy rainfall and/or during king tides.
Councillor Richie Bates said the $3-4 million a year set aside for drainage maintenance ($4.1m in the last budget) was never enough to keep up with the demands of a peak wet season.
“In the inner suburbs like Parramatta Park and Westcourt especially, water always ends up going over the road,” he said. “Peak weather events can also affect sewerage infrastructure,” he said.
Heavy monsoon falls are expected to decrease this weekend but the reprieve could be short.
Today, the weather bureau has forecast up to 15mm of rainfall this morning with a chance of a thunderstorm.
Meteorologist Alex Majchrowski said the lull was only short-term.
“The monsoon trough could move back further south or go in a different direction it’s too early to say,” he said.
“However, thunderstorms will still be in place from next week,” he said.
The council will provide free sandbags this weekend in preparation for next week.