Natural Disaster Program

The department is working on about 1100 projects to restore roads across Queensland damaged by floods and bushfires. The department is also reconnecting communities and supporting regional economic recovery after disaster events damaged the state-controlled road network in 2020–25.

Key features

  • Restoring access for communities and businesses. 
  • Restoring damaged roads and road surfaces.
  • Repairing damaged structures, including bridges and culverts.
  • Repairing damaged slopes and batters along roads.
  • Clearing silt and debris.

Benefits

  • Restores damaged infrastructure
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth

About the program

  • The Natural Disaster Program reconnects Queenslanders by repairing parts of the state-controlled road network damaged by natural disasters.
  • The department restores damaged sites to their pre-disaster level of service.
  • In the first 3 months after disaster events, the department undertakes emergency works such as clearing debris and filling potholes. This enables roads to be used safely while the department completes geotechnical and environmental investigations, surveys and detailed design for reconstruction works, where required.
  • Reconstruction works are completed within 2 financial years after the financial year in which the disaster event occurred.
  • Where possible, the program also supports the resilience of state roads to future disasters.

Current status

  • Damage assessments and repairs are underway after heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone Alfred caused numerous landslips on Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterland roads in March 2025.
  • Damage assessments and repairs are underway after significant flooding in north Queensland in early 2025. A substantial reconstruction program will include repairs to the Ed Kratzmann Bridge at Ollera Creek on the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Ingham, and more than 60 landslips on Mount Spec Road west of Townsville.
  • Major road repairs are underway across Queensland after significant disaster events in 2023–24. Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused multiple landslips on range roads around Cairns, a major debris clean-up has been undertaken following severe storms across southern Queensland and flooding associated with Tropical Cyclone Kirrily damaged roads in western Queensland.
  • Repairs are nearing completion after flooding across northern and central Queensland in early 2023.
  • A substantial recovery program is nearing completion across southern Queensland, after major disaster events caused extensive damage in 2021–22. The program is repairing significant state road damage across 41 local government areas, including numerous major landslips, widespread pavement damage and shoulder scouring and widespread scouring around culverts and bridges.
  • Reconstruction works are underway on the Cunningham Highway where bushfires caused significant slope damage at Cunninghams Gap in late 2019. Due to the severe damage and complex site, repairs are being undertaken over an extended period.
Funding

The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Traffic info

These works may change traffic conditions that impact your travel. Visit QLDTraffic to plan your journey.

8 Projects in Natural Disaster Program

Cunningham Highway (Ipswich – Warwick), 2020 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

The department is committed to restoring and repairing the damaged section of the Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap. This 2km stretch, leading up to the Allan Cunningham monument, suffered significant road damage during the bushfires in 2019.

  • South Coast District
  • Construction
Aerial image of Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap

Far North Queensland cyclone reconstruction works

The department is moving into the reconstruction phase of the Tropical Cyclone Jasper recovery. This event in December 2023 caused severe damage to the state-controlled road network due to record rainfall.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
Aerial image of Kuranda Range Road, showing large green trees and a curved road which has temporary stabilisation repairs following a major landslip on the side of the road.

Flood resilience works

The department is improving the flood immunity and resilience of the state-controlled road network at 27 priority sites.

  • Metropolitan District
  • South Coast District
  • South West District
  • Darling Downs District
  • Wide Bay Burnett District
  • Construction

Gold Coast-Springbrook Road, Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

Gold Coast-Springbrook sustained a significant number of landslips, rock falls and tree falls over a 10-kilometre section during extreme rainfall and flooding events from 22 February to 20 May 2022.

  • South Coast District
  • Construction
Aerial view of Gold Coast-Springbrook Road major slip site

Kuranda Range Road cyclone reconstruction works

Reconstruction works are underway at locations on Kuranda Range Road damaged during Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
No image supplied

Lamington National Park Road, Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

The department is working on multiple locations along Lamington National Park Road which require pavement rehabilitation and permanent reconstruction works.

  • South Coast District
  • Construction
Aerial photograph of a major landslip on Lamington National Park Road

Palmerston Highway cyclone reconstruction works

Reconstruction works are underway to repair two landslip sites on the Palmerston Highway (Millaa Millaa-Innisfail).

  • Far North District
  • Construction
No image supplied

Southern Queensland 2022 flood reconstruction works

Repairs are underway across southern Queensland after extensive and severe damage to the state-controlled road network was caused by multiple heavy rainfall and flooding events in 2022.

  • Darling Downs District
  • Metropolitan District
  • North Coast District
  • South Coast District
  • Wide Bay Burnett District
  • Construction
Landslip on Gold Coast - Springbrook Road

Last updated: 26 March 2025