Sunshine Coast's ‘worst landslide in 30 years’ is extensive with no easy fix

A landslide on Black Mountain Road is believed to be the biggest experienced on the Sunshine Coast in 30 years. The road is just west of the Bruce Highway, not far from Cooroy. Geotechnical assessments have revealed the damage, caused during February’s deluge, to be quite extensive with no easy fix.

Noosa Council expects the repairs to take about two years, flagging a possible completion date of mid-2024 while the predicted reconstruction costs have been estimated at between $25 and $30 million.

 “The experts tell us that much of the damage is below the surface and restoring the area is quite complex,” Director of Infrastructure Services Larry Sengstock said.

Residents have been given an update at a specially convened information session. Mr Sengstock said final reconstruction costs would not be known until designs were completed. “A complex detailed design is required and we will need to engage specialized contractors to carry out the work,” he said.

“It’s difficult for residents to hear, but this is a significant landslide and we need to be as transparent as possible so they understand the complexities involved.” Mr Sengstock said the project remains a priority for council and all tenders will be fast-tracked.

“We acknowledge that the landslide has closed off the thoroughfare nature of the Black Mountain Road and we are simply unable to provide any by-pass due to the instability of the land and we are working with the community to minimize the disruption by doing significant works on the Anderson Road causeway and regular grading of the road”, he said. “Council is liaising with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority who administer disaster recovery funding on behalf of the State Government and they have been very supportive,” he said.

Mayor Clare Stewart assured Black Mountain residents, they would not be forgotten. “We have dedicated staff to liaise with local residents and we are providing as much information as we can to keep them informed,” she said. “The February weather was unprecedented and Council has been moving as quickly as it can to address issues.”