Embankment restoration works have at last commenced on Rosewood Marburg Road following damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in 2025.
The works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and are expected to be completed in early 2027, weather and construction conditions permitting.
Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne welcomed the progress but said locals had been left dealing with disruption for far too long while waiting for this government to act.
Since the damage occurred, residents travelling along Rosewood Marburg Road have faced temporary traffic controls, reduced speeds and ongoing congestion, with permanent restoration taking more than a year to commence.
“It’s good to see work happening on Rosewood Marburg Road, but locals should not have had to put up with more than a year of disruption to get to this point,” Ms Bourne said.
“Anyone who regularly travels this road knows how frustrating the past year has been, with traffic controls and congestion becoming part of the daily commute.”
“Ipswich West is a growing region, and we need a State Government that treats our local infrastructure with the urgency it deserves.”
Rosewood Marburg Road has a documented history of requiring substantial repair works following severe weather, including more than $3 million in rehabilitation and restoration works programmed in 2012, as well as a separate batter slope repair and later retaining wall and road surfacing works.
Ms Bourne said that history showed why the current restoration needed to be more than a short-term fix.
“We have seen significant rehabilitation, slope repairs and retaining wall works along this road before, so these works need to deliver a long-term solution,” Ms Bourne said.
“Severe weather is not new to our region, and our infrastructure needs to be built with that reality in mind.”
“After more than a year of disruption, locals deserve confidence that Rosewood Marburg Road is being strengthened to better withstand future events and reduce the risk of another lengthy closure.”
Ms Bourne has written to the Department of Transport and Main Roads seeking further information about the reasons for the extensive delay and the cost to taxpayers of maintaining traffic control at the site before construction commenced.
“Taxpayers deserve to know how much has been spent managing this site while permanent repairs were delayed, and why it took so long to get construction underway,” Ms Bourne said.
“Now that work has started, the priority must be delivering a safe, reliable and resilient road that our community can depend on for years to come.”
