Bridge builds flood resilience for Scrub Creek residents

A new bridge in the Somerset region extending over Brisbane River has safeguarded access for a community previously at risk to isolation during severe weather.

Jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), Scrub Creek Bridge replaces a concrete causeway that flooded regularly during heavy rain and was severely damaged by the devastating 2022 flood event.

Previously a mere 50mm of rain in the river’s upper catchment would cause issues for Scrub Creek residents, and a crossing washout in 2022 saw the community cut off for more than two weeks.

Since that event Somerset Regional Council has worked closely with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority to secure Betterment funding and rebuild the bridge to a more resilient standard.

Work commenced in March 2024 and was completed in September six months later, backed by $5.1 million in DRFA assistance, and $186,000 from council.

The new concrete bridge is 30 metres in length and features a reinforced box culvert with four large pipes in its centre that allow large volumes of water to flow under the road unabated.

Raising the bridge by almost a metre above the original causeway has also greatly improved the structure's flood resilience,

And already the bridge has proven a game-changer for the local community, performing well during heavy rains in December 2024 and keeping the community connected.

That storm was real-time validation of modelling that replicated an event which would have previously isolated the Scrub Creek community.

With the new bridge, Scrub Creek Bridge remained open.

Betterment funding to build flood resilience into vital infrastructure like bridges and roads is a sage investment in community safety.

Scrub Creek residents now have confidence they won’t face the past impacts of isolation during future flood events.