March 19, 2019 - Council news briefs

Dunk Island clean up: Cassowary Coast Regional Council crews have begun work on the jetty repair, sand renourishment and camp ground clean up on Dunk Island. An excavator, truck, bobcat and cement mixers were among machinery and equipment which arrived on the island by barge from Lucinda on Monday. Mayor John Kremastos said the work was expected to take up to two weeks. “It’s a construction site with heavy machinery in operation and the jetty, toilet area and spit are closed to the public,” Cr Kremastos said. “These operations are fully permitted under strict environmental controls. People wanting to access the Mt Kootaloo Walking Track can land their boats at Muggy Muggy Bay near the resort area or Coconut Beach on the other side of the island.” Cr Kremastos said the jetty, spit area and campgrounds would reopen in time for Easter and thanked the public in advance for its cooperation by staying away from the works area.  Permits had been obtained through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to relocate sand from Pallon Beach at the end of the spit to the areas around the jetty and main beach, which had been badly eroded through a series of adverse weather and tide events. 

Water consumption and charges down: Water consumption in the Cassowary Coast Region in the financial year to the end of February has dropped by half a million kilolitres on the same period last year. Reduced consumption particularly during the period of water restrictions, together with faulty water meters, has resulted in a drop in Water Charges revenue of $839,000.  Council is in the process of replacing faulty water meters and is continuing to install smart meters throughout the region.  The smart metering will highlight water leaks to ratepayers earlier and provide current data on faulty meters. Council also provides concessions for people who have been unaware of water leaks and who act promptly once alerted to get a plumber to rectify the leak. Between July 2018 and February 2019, 265 properties were given concessions totalling $137,000. This compares with 254 properties being granted water concessions worth a total of $230,000 in the previous financial year. “It’s a service we provide to the community giving them some relief due to unforeseen circumstances,” a Council spokeswoman said.

Tenders called for Tully complex: Cassowary Coast Regional Council is inviting tenders for the construction of the Tully Multi-Use Sporting Complex and Grandstand at the Tully Showgrounds. Council has been working with the 19 user groups to refine the design to meet requirements. Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year and be completed by April 2020 in time for the annual Tully Show. Mayor John Kremastos said Council officers would continue to liaise with user groups over the construction period. He encouraged suitably qualified and experienced local contractors to submit a tender for the work. Interested parties should consult the Local Government Tender Box via www.lgtenderbox.com.au 

Big turnout for walking track meeting: Around 77 residents and stakeholders, including Queensland National Park Service, Mamu Traditional Owners and the Wet Tropics Management Authority, attended a meeting hosted by Cassowary Coast Regional Council at Innisfail Library on Monday to discuss a proposed mountain bike and walking trail between Coquette Point and Etty Bay. Cr Ben Heath said the 4.5km proposed Coquette Point-Etty Bay Trail in the Moresby Range National Park would form part of a broader Regional Multi-use Trails Strategy for the Tablelands and Cassowary Coast region. The actual path of the proposed picturesque, low-impact, narrow trail had not yet been determined, but would possibly follow an existing old timber logging track and be anchored at either end by the coastal villages of Coquette Point in the north and Etty Bay in the south. Discussion centred around the trail’s ecotourism potential, the welfare of cassowaries, traffic management, the possibility of extending the trail link to include Innisfail to boost local businesses through bike hire and hospitality for biking tourists, and tourism opportunities for local Mamu Indigenous tour guides. “The majority of people at the meeting were in favour of creating the trail,” Cr Heath said. “The next step will be discussions with State agencies in regard to the approval process and environmental and cultural heritage requirements, followed by further consultation with stakeholders.”     

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