Scenic Rim Regional Council have begun preparations to begin construction of the new Shelf Road despite one resident saying they expect there will be a mass exodus of residents from the road.
The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, is one of several living on the road whose house has been damaged by subsidence.
A Department of Mines report carried out by geologist Warwick Willmott in 1981 found the road unsuitable for any form of settlement and further clearing would sooner or later result in the development of major instability.
The realty of the Beaudesert Shire Council approving development in is now forcing many in the street to demolish their homes and move.
The resident, whose insurance company have said their house must now be demolished, said they wouldn’t be surprised if the individual insurance companies didn’t pursue the Scenic Rim Regional Council for the costs they have incurred.
Scenic Rim Regional Council sent residents a letter last month notifying them of the upcoming preparation works, including the relocation of services, expected to commence this month.
A council spokesperson said the work would take approximately four weeks to complete.
“Works, to be undertaken by the utility provider, will involve trenching and the installation of temporary and permanent conduits and cables,” the spokesperson said.
“Council is still in the final stages of procurement for the construction phase of the project and a concept plan will be shared with the community in the near future.”
Council expects the new road to cost between $11-12 million dollars, however, Professor Behzad Fatahi from the University of Technology Sydney, a civil engineer specialising in complex loading conditions like ground settlement and dynamic forces, said in order to mitigate the geotechnical risks effectively it would be multiple times more.
The council said measures have been implemented to mitigate environmental impacts, including protecting vulnerable plants and wildlife, as well as ensuring the area is restored
It said protected trees have been relocated to the reserve adjacent to the works.
Shelf Road resident, Leon Radunz, said he cleared the slope of lantana and planted every tree there, which the council have now clear felled, as well as kept it weed-free.
“As for special trees being relocated, it is a joke. No trees have been relocated thus far,” he said.
“I planted every tree on that slope, and I mean everyone, including the marked macadamia trees. I planted seeds from grafted trees in my garden that I bought from a commercial nursery. So, the concept of “ancient genetics to be preserved” is illusionary.
“Macadamias are treated as being special as a dozen or so within the remaining uncleared forest have been tagged by coloured ribbons and wooden stakes for some reason.
“I suspect the unenlightened council environmental officer who is doing the environmental component of the project thinks they are special as they represent a naturally occurring gene pool for future breeding purposes.
“The officer is treating the area as original virgin rainforest, not as a replanted area with no original trees.”
Leon said the weeds are now over two metres tall, but council have said weed management is the responsibility of the construction contractor.
Ian Shepherd who has lived above Shelf Road since 2000, said nesting boxes were put on his land without their permission. He subsequently granted permission.
He said there did not appear to be any replanting on the reserve as stated by the council and it was just full of weeds.
“I think it’s (the new road) big waste of money. It should never have been done in the first place. Willmot identified the slips in 1981,” Ian stated.
The council spokesperson said they would not comment on the fact residents are being told to demolish their houses as it was between them and their insurance company.
