Potholes top region's complaint list

Road potholes were the most reported complaint on Moreton Bay Regional Council’s (MBRC) Request app, in the last financial year.

More than a third of the total 4745 issues logged, from July 2021 to June 2022, were about potholes – one of many issues created by the torrential spring rain.

In fact, the first six months of this year saw 1325 pothole ‘requests’ made using the app – a rise of almost 200 per cent from July-December.

Collection concerns

Such was the damage caused by the weather, MBRC reported its crews repaired 10,500 potholes between February and June.

All other categories in the MBRC App top 10, rose sharply - mainly due to heavy rain and COVID disruptions – with two exceptions.

Missed waste bin collections were second with 870 reports lodged in the same period followed by 498 requests to remove graffiti on buildings.

Dumping dropped

Staff shortages also hit collections in August when Mayor Peter Flannery said Cleanaway was “looking to get additional crew members from other parts of Queensland”.

Issues with footpaths, fallen trees or branches and road drainage all soared n the first six months this year, as did calls for mowing/slashing overgrown council land.

However, the illegal dumping of litter fell by more than 27 per cent in the second six months.

Five per cent

MBRC had funding for 148 footpath projects in its 2021-22 financial year and in March said the road asset maintenance and renewal budget would increase from $2.06 million to $2.26 million from the current (2022-23) financial year.

Council has scanners on refuge collection trucks, to identify issues on roads and pushbikes checking cycleways and footpaths for faults.

The Request app total represents just five per cent of the overall ‘requests’ made to council each year. The majority are still made through MBRC’s call centre.