Resilience and connectivity prioritised in rebuild of critical border link
The Mount Lindesay Highway is a vital transport corridor linking Brisbane and Beaudesert inland to the Queensland-New South Wales border.
It serves as an essential lifeline for the local Scenic Rim community, supporting freight movements, inter-regional travel and emergency services access, as well as providing a scenic travel route that cuts through the region’s rolling, heavily vegetated terrain.
Unfortunately the mountainous passages along the highway leave it vulnerable to severe weather and present complex challenges when it comes to maintaining safety and functionality.
This was realised in dramatic fashion in 2022 when major flood events caused significant damage across more than 20 sites on the highway.
The rugged stretch of Mount Lindesay Highway from Beaudesert to the border experienced landslips, road pavement deterioration, culvert damage, and embankment failures.
This not only impacted local communities but also hampered recovery efforts in the region and the state's southern supply chain.
Enter Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, who, guided by a commitment to building back better, embarked on two years of extensive reconstruction works that began with emergency repairs immediately after the floods.
Backed by joint Commonwealth-state funding under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), this major project focused on embedding resilience and sustainability into the highway’s rebuild.
Sophisticated rehabilitation measures helped stabilise and reconstruct the extensively damaged embankments.
Engineers utilised more than 800 metres of soil nails, approximately 480 tonnes of rock in gabion baskets, and about 4,400 tonnes of fill material.
Additionally, drainage improvements were delivered along a five-kilometre stretch in the area most impacted by flooding, including upgraded culvert inlets and concrete table drains designed to redirect stormwater away from roads during heavy rain events.
Stringent measures were also implemented during the reconstruction process to protect the area’s delicate ecosystem, controlling sediment runoff and debris movement while still maintaining adequate fish passageways.
Following the completion of works in September 2025, the improved Mount Lindesay Highway is now safer, more sustainable, and better equipped to endure future severe weather events.
Guaranteed connectivity for the region has given industry and communities confidence, helping local businesses and growing the economy.
The major recovery project underscores the value of the DRFA in delivering long-term infrastructure solutions that address vulnerabilities and improve resilience.
The overall result is a stronger Queensland, redesigned for the better in the face of a changing climate.
