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16/06/09Government invests extra $5.6 million to assist Collingwood Park residents
Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said the Bligh Government is investing a further $5.6 million to assist Collingwood Park residents affected by last year's mine subsidence event.
Mr Robertson said the extra funding would cover the cost of additional home purchases and repairs to properties affected by the April 2008 subsidence event.
The extra money will also fund a drilling program and research into the feasibility of backfilling underground mine voids beneath Collingwood Park to significantly reduce the risk of further subsidence events in the future.
"The Bligh Government is very mindful of the distress being felt by some Collingwood Park residents and is committed to supporting them," Mr Robertson said.
"The extra $5.6 million builds upon the government's existing $10 million financial assistance package to purchase homes considered not economically repairable - or where owners demonstrate extreme hardship circumstances - and to repair other properties damaged by the mine subsidence event."
Mr Robertson said the government was committed to practical long-term solutions to minimise the risk of further subsidence events at Collingwood Park.
"That's why we commissioned a scoping study by Parsons Brinckerhoff to advise us on further action required to determine the extent of subsidence beneath Collingwood Park and identify long-term solutions.
"The report concluded there is a risk of further subsidence events in undermined areas of Collingwood Park, although no timeframes or magnitude were given or predicted.
"It also recommended a geotechnical drilling program be undertaken to establish the extent of the underground void beneath Collingwood Park and to identify potential mitigation strategies.
"The drilling program and research will determine if backfilling the voids with slurry material, such as fly ash, is the best strategy to substantially reduce the risk of any future subsidence events.
"The Government is taking action to implement the report recommendations," Mr Robertson said.
Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller said to date, the government has purchased 17 Collingwood Park homes and are currently negotiating purchase with another property owner.
"The door is not closed on further purchases and each case will be judged on its merits," she said.
"The Government is also fast-tracking the repair process for those properties that can be repaired at this stage.
"Importantly, the Bligh Government has enshrined in legislation its guarantee to repair - or purchase where uneconomical to repair - any existing property in Collingwood Park damaged by mine subsidence for the lifetime of that property," Ms Miller said.
Mr Robertson said the government is also working closely with CSIRO mine subsidence experts to research the technical and economic feasibility of backfilling and stabilising the underground mine voids with fly ash material from Swanbank Power Station.
"If feasible, this potential long-term mitigation strategy would give Collingwood Park residents considerable peace of mind and help restore property values in the area," he said.
Media contact: Minister's office 07 3225 1819
Last Updated 03 November 2009
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