Picturesque Miara caravan park on the banks of the Kolan River and with the Pacific Ocean in the background

Extra $73,000 required

Costs soar for remedial work at Miara park

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REMEDIAL work at flood-ravaged Miara Caravan Park north of Bundaberg in Queensland will cost $173,000, nearly twice as much as first thought.

Raging waters from the adjoining Kolan River last year cut a swathe of destruction through the 134-site park, one of four operated by Bundaberg Regional Council.

The torrent was so ferocious it split the mouth of the river into three separate waterways, one dividing nearby Moore Park Beach to the south.

The 3-star caravan park, popular with local fishing enthusiasts and southern grey nomads, had to be closed for about three months while major repairs were carried out to its infrastructure.

In a recent update, the regional council said that initial works had been carried out involving the use of sand nourishment techniques to stabilise erosion problems.

Divisional representative Alan Bush said approval had been gained to implement the work due to the threat posed to the caravan park roads and infrastructure.

"Council submitted and gained the necessary development application approvals to undertake the sand nourishment work and the project was commenced in early December last year," Cr Bush explained.

The project, he said, had been completed at a cost of $28,000 and the results were now at a "monitoring stage".

"Council utilised some 670 cubic metres of sand stockpiled after the 2013 flood to facilitate the stabilisation work.

"Costs associated with the project related to consultants and government fees, labour and plant hire."

He said the council was now providing necessary paperwork to the state government seeking approval to install a rock wall which could provide a long term solution to erosion problems near the caravan park.

Cr Bush said an initial budget vote of $100,000 to undertake remedial work at the caravan park had been increased to $173,000 in a budget review.

"This should allow us to carry out our preferred rock stabilisation once approval is gained," he added.

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