Flood-affected businesses are cautiously optimistic drainage upgrades in Beaudesert CBD will be effective, but there are calls for more action to address long-running issues.
The Scenic Rim Regional Council has allocated $293,572 in the 2022-23 budget for continued works as part of the Beaudesert Town Centre Revitalisation project.
The Brisbane, Eaglesfield and Short Street drainage upgrades are part of Phase 1: 2020-2023 of the revitalisation, planned to be finished by next year.
Council was not able to provide a stand-alone cost for the 3-year drainage project, but it is part of the $8.4 million Phase 1, which also includes ‘caravan and car parking, Selwyn and Brisbane Street traffic and pedestrian improvements, upgrading the parklands with amphitheatre, shelters, new public toilet and play space’.
Flood-affected businesses cautiously optimistic
Some relief could be in sight for local business owners sick of mopping muddy flood water out of their shopfronts when Beaudesert CBD floods.
The ‘Beaudesert Town Centre Drainage Improvements: Brisbane, Eaglesfield and Short Street’ project, which according to Council’s website is a 3-year project from 2020-2023, is due to be finished next year.
On 8 December 2021, local shops were inundated when up to 100m in an hour caused shock flooding in what several CBD shopkeepers described as the worst they had seen.
Beaudesert Newsagency owner Bob Christensen, who had never seen it so bad in 26 years of having the shop, is apprehensive about whether the drainage improvements will fix the issue.
“I’ll believe it when I see it – I’m cautiously optimistic and hope it does something,” he said.
Chris Grimmett, who has had dress shop Kalico Country for 30 years, said the December 2021 flood was the worst she had seen in her shop.
“I’ll be really happy if it happens – it’s well and truly overdue and I’m thankful Council has listened to our concerns,” she said.
“I’m optimistic but just a bit concerned with the way the climate is going. It sounds like they’re doing what they can.”
Sue Rodwell from All Blown Up party supplies store in the arcade on the corner of Brisbane Street and William Street said it would not fix the issue for her and others.
“Because we’re at the base of a slope, a lot of our flooding came down through the back of Brisbane Street. Out the back there is a swamp, even when it rains heavily,” she said.
Council confirmed the project is on track to finish next year and that the section of Brisbane Street from Short Street to the William Street traffic lights intersection – considered to be among the worst – is included.
“Scenic Rim Regional Council has appointed a specialist civil contractor and re-directed some construction and labour resources to continue the redevelopment of the Beaudesert Town Centre,” a spokesperson said.
“Despite the number of weather and flood events in the past six months, Council is working towards completing the remaining Beaudesert Town Centre Drainage Improvement works by the end of the 2022-2023 financial year, weather permitting.”
