As oceans warm, Gippsland’s road network suffers

Nearly two years after storms carved up roads in the Strzelecki Ranges, ratepayers will finally see major repairs begin on landslide sites between Welshpool and Gormandale.

But an increasing trend of flooding and severe weather events are putting pressure on Australia’s roadways and infrastructure, costing Gippsland councils millions of dollars in the process.

What happened: At a council meeting in early November, Wellington Shire Council awarded two contracts to repair multiple landslides in the Strezlecki Ranges between Welshpool and Gormandale, nearly two years after storms battered the shire.

Wellington Shire experienced 14 declared emergency events between March 2021 and February 2024, causing damage at multiple points along Jamieson-Licola and McKinnons roads. 

Initial stabilisation works were completed, but engineering advice recommended more extensive repairs.

How much will the repairs cost? In its 2025/26 budget Wellington Shire council said it will spend $3.5 million on landslide repairs around the Yarram district.

Councillor John Tadderson told the meeting works will be "supported in part by council funding and through [Disaster Recovery and Financial Assistance] funding".

Experts warn the increase in likelihood of severe weather events is driving up the number of repairs required.

Is there a growing trend? Dr Milton Speer, a meteorologist at the University of Technology Sydney, told the Monitor that rising global temperatures due to pollutants like CO2 and methane are causing an increase in severe flooding events.

🗣️ “The oceans are heating up, the air is heating up,” said Speer. “That means there's more moisture that can go into the atmosphere. That means you can get more moisture falling out as rain.”

What are the costs? Professor of Economics at the University of Canberra, Stephen Bartos, told the Monitor he has noticed this increased trend of severe weather events along the Eastern states and is concerned it’s driving infrastructure damage.

🗣️ “Flood risks are increasing,” Bartos said. “We concentrate a huge amount of transport infrastructure up and down the coast. The road network is essentially in areas that will flood.”

Local governments squeezed

Bartos said some local governments have the fiscal capacity to maintain roads in good condition while others, particularly those in remote areas with a low population base, find it much more difficult.

🗣️ “There's a number of local councils which simply don't have the funds to purchase the kind of heavy equipment that's needed to keep roads in good repair.”

• Bartos said regional councils can face the twin challenges of having a small population and ratepayer base, and a large network of roads. 

The combination of these factors along with more frequent severe weather events mean local councils around Gippsland are feeling the pinch.

South Gippsland: Since 2021, South Gippsland Shire has experienced six declared disaster events that resulted in over 100 landslides. Emergency Management Victoria has approved $13 million of recovery work.

Latrobe: Severe weather events in 2021 and 2022 caused 72 landslides within Latrobe City Council’s boundaries. The state and federal governments chipped in $15.3 million for the repairs.

💰The cost of adaptation: A report by Deloitte Access Economics estimated that inaction on climate change could shrink Australia's GDP by six percent by 2070, which is a loss of around $3.4 trillion.