What’s happening?
Disaster recovery works on Mount Sylvia Road in the Lockyer Valley are now finished, with major upgrades made to five floodways to protect the area from future flood damage. Construction began in July 2024 and was completed in September 2025.
Why it matters
The upgrades mean Mount Sylvia Road is now better protected against severe weather, reducing the risk of closures and damage that have long affected the region. These improvements are part of broader efforts to build stronger, more flood-resilient transport networks across Queensland.
Local Impact
The upgrades provide safer and more reliable access for the Lockyer Valley community, reducing isolation during floods and helping maintain essential transport routes for locals and emergency services.
“Building back better at water crossings helps to minimise the duration of road closures as well as ensuring the road surfaces are better able to withstand traffic loads when the area becomes saturated with flood waters,” said Department of Transport and Main Roads Regional Director Bill Lansbury. “These projects help future-proof vital road infrastructure, while supporting environmental recovery from disastrous weather events.”
By the numbers
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Five floodways have been upgraded to improve drainage and road strength against flooding.
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Works took place from July 2024 to September 2025, covering multiple vulnerable sites.
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Funding came through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Zoom In
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) led the repairs, addressing long-standing flood vulnerabilities caused by Tenthill and Blackfellow creeks. The upgrades included reinforced concrete road edges, extended floodways, and rock protection along creek banks to slow water flow. Landscape planting was also introduced to help stabilise soil and aid environmental recovery.
Zoom Out
This project forms part of Queensland’s wider disaster recovery strategy, focused on rebuilding infrastructure that can better handle extreme weather. The TMR project complements a major rehabilitation effort along Tenthill Creek, delivered by Resilient Rivers SEQ in partnership with the Australian Government, Queensland Government, Council of Mayors (SEQ), and Lockyer Valley Regional Council.
What to look for next
The Lockyer Valley community can expect continued environmental restoration works under the Resilient Rivers SEQ partnership, supporting both road and creek recovery in the region.