Major Toowoomba drainage works completed - Toowoomba Chronicle

Flood mitigation work on West Creek between Herries and James Sts nears completion, Monday, September 15, 2014. Photo Kevin Farmer / The Chronicle Kevin Farmer

THE official opening of the $10.4 million Goggs St drainage-West Ck channel works marks a milestone in the city's recovery from the 2011 floods.

Funded through the joint State and Federal Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, Toowoomba Regional Council repaired hundreds of roads and other significant infrastructure including culverts and bridges damaged by the 2011 and 2013 flood events.

These repairs have cost more than $200 million across the region.

Community Recovery and Resilience Minister David Crisafulli said the culvert at Herries St provided some of the most haunting footage of the 2011 flash floods.

"The footage of cars coming down West Creek and smashing into the culvert was replayed all over the world," Mr Crisafulli said.

"Anyone who had been to Toowoomba was glued to the screen in disbelief seeing that much water entering the city centre.

"The Queensland and Federal Governments are partnering with the Toowoomba Regional Council to deliver one of the most ambitious flood mitigation programs in the city's history.

"While we will never flood-proof Toowoomba, we are taking steps to better protect locals and infrastructure from future flood events."

Along with the NDRAA funding, the Goggs St drainage project received $1.8 million from the Queensland Government's Royalties for the Regions program and an additional $137,000 through Transport and Main Roads' Cycle Network Local Government Grants Program.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio thanked the nearby business community for their role in the Goggs St drainage and adjacent West Creek channel works. Kevin Farmer

"I would once again like to thank the community for their patience during construction," Cr Antonio said.

"Especially the businesses on Goggs, Tointon, Kenric, Clifford and Prescott Sts for working with the project team while the works were being delivered."

"This has been a complicated project with significant work underground and in the channel.

"The West Creek project will assist in providing flood mitigation for up to a nominal one in 100-year storm event."

Cr Antonio said the main feature of the work was to install a new stormwater network under Goggs St, linking to pipes installed at Kenric St to flow through to the West Creek Channel, which was also widened.

"There also are other benefits including new road surfacing, driveway, kerb and channel and footpaths for sections of Goggs St."

Cr Antonio said opening up of the channel and installation of a new footbridge and footpaths would reactivate this area of Toowoomba.

The West Creek composite fibre foot bridge was supplied by local Toowoomba-based company Wagners.

"The new bridge is also symbolic of what we are trying to achieve with all of these works," Cr Antonio said.

"Wherever we could, the aim was to replace infrastructure with better, more resilient structures.

"This carbon fibre bridge is more sustainable and better for the environment than traditional timber or steel options.

"People walking between Goggs St and the Police Citizen's Youth Club have easy access across the new footbridge.

"The cycling and walking paths also connect the area to the south, from Clewley Park, towards Herries St and the centre of Toowoomba.

"Whether you are taking a walk or riding a bike, this is now an attractive area to travel through."