Springbrook inaction does the Hinterland no favours

IN CONTRAST to my praise of the professionalism of the contractors on the Gooding Drive and Robina Parkway roundabout, albeit with a ridiculous “band aid” solution from a design standpoint, I took a ride to the base of Springbrook on December 27.

Despite Cyclone Debbie hitting the Gold Coast on March 30, some nine months later the road is still closed.

Purportedly the reason is landslip danger on a road that was originally built in 1925 through 1928 and has been reinforced by retention walls (gunite and other means) and rock fall fencing haphazardly ever since.

Springbrook being one of the jewels of the Gold Coast Hinterland (Lamington National Park, Purling Brook Falls etc) surely deserves more attention than the now deserted entry and exit points to the scenic route complete with locked gates and concrete barriers that make it look more like a nuclear fallout area.

My heart goes out to the residents of Springbrook, many of whom have had to move from their homes to access work on the Gold Coast plains.

I also feel for others that have had to close businesses or have suffered economic distress due to the incompetence of the state and local governments and their folly.

With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching you would think that such a tourist hotspot would be afforded some priority, even putting aside the considerable losses for residents and business owners.

No, this is not the case, there was no one to be seen working on the Queensland Heritage Registered road and can only assume this is an “in house” project by the GCCC, which is typical ineptitude of the highest order and smells of funds diverted for the Games.

Moreover, several months ago when local media reported the landslip problems which have been there since 1925, a road worker employed to patrol the entry of Springbrook Rd (prior to the imposing structure in place now) assured me the problem was not landslip.

The worker said the issue was more to do with National Heritage bridges, one of which was nearing collapse and was propped up by a telegraph pole.

I owned land in Springbrook from 1981 to 1997 and must have crossed the two wooden bridges a few hundred times over the years.

As a construction consultant I can assure you that without National (or Queensland) Heritage interference this road would have been opened by June 2017.

When is the council going to come clean on this and is it going to compensate residents and business owners adversely affected by this incompetence?

All I can say is get your act together, the alternative route adds 45 minutes to a simple journey and the way it is being handled is a disgrace.