NewsBites: February Council Meeting 2020

Items of interest from February’s ordinary Council meeting.

In 2018 the Department of Transport and Main Roads provided a grant to Council to investigate the feasibility of constructing and managing the Mareeba to Walkamin rail trail. The study assessed the feasibility of converting a decommissioned rail line into a public non-motorised trail.

Findings of the study were presented at today’s Council meeting for consideration.

Mayor Tom Gilmore said the development of the rail trail has potential; however Council and the community cannot afford to proceed with the project at the present time and the project would also have to be weighed up against other community infrastructure projects.

“The report found that development of the trail is potentially a viable option however there would be a significant capital contribution required from Council to progress the project,” he said.

Furthermore, the study which was completed in December 2019, indicated that there are no grant funds available to cover the ongoing maintenance of the trail.

“Council will need to consider the development of the Mareeba Rail Trail in relation to other similar projects for community facilities such as the Barron Falls Trails, the Bicentennial Lakes redevelopment and other sport and recreational facilities projects,” Cr Gilmore explained.

The project will be included in the list of other similar potential recreational project opportunities, prioritised accordingly and will be considered by Council in future budgets.

Following a bridge inspection at on Chapmans Road in Julatten at the Bushy Creek Crossing, tenders were called to replace the timber structure which has reached the end of its functional life. Council today awarded the tender to Durack Civil Pty Ltd to replace the bridge with box culverts will provide whole-of-life cost option in terms of both capital cost and ongoing maintenance.

Wet weather has slightly delayed the completion of the Mareeba Industrial Park expansion, preventing the sealing of the road. The Mareeba Industrial Park Expansion – Stage 3 project is funded through Round 4 of the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions program and Mareeba Shire Council. Council hopes a break in the weather will provide fine conditions to dry the existing unsealed pavement to allow for the primer seal and subsequent asphalt overlay.

The new high lift pumps were installed at the Kuranda Water Plant. The newly installed pumps are energy efficient and will reduce energy consumption at the plant.

Stage 1 of the Mareeba Transfer Station upgrade has been completed with the public and contractor trucks now utilising the new drop off and loading areas. The $1.5 redevelopment will improve the facility’s capacity to deal with waste and make it more user-friendly for residents. The project will include a new layout to accommodate bulk waste collection, additional transfer bins and more space for recycling. Works are anticipated to be completed by late  March, weather permitting.

Council is continuing to carry out the scheduled reseal and asphalt programs across the Shire. Last month the asphalt overlay of Abbott and O’Donnell Streets in Mareeba were completed. The contractor engaged under the FNQROC Reseal Program has commenced the resealing roads in the Julatten area.

Recent rain has seen germination of Parthenium on several new sites that have been located as a result of land protection property inspections. There are now 11 known active sites within the Shire. Parthenium has the ability to dominate pasture lands, orchards and lifestyle blocks. It is a major environmental weed and transmits adverse health effects to humans, domestic pets and animals via contact with sap and pollens from the plant. Call 1300 308 461 to report suspected sightings of Parthenium.