NewsBites: March Council Meeting 2020
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Items of interest from Council’s ordinary meeting held on Wednesday 18 March 2020.
FUNDING HELPS PROMOTE AND CULTUREA report tabled by Council today highlighted the positive outcomes from several community projects funded by the Queensland Government’s Regional Arts Development Fund.
Seven community projects funded through the RADF community grant 2018/19 round aimed to build local cultural capacity, cultural innovation and community pride through a range of arts, cultural and heritage activities.
A Council spokesperson said Council’s local priorities for last year’s round were cultural tourism and youth arts engagement, and the results and feedback were very positive.
“Overall the latest RADF community grant round resulted in 163 residents participating in arts and cultural activities with more than 1200 attendees at events and performances,” he said.
“The program contributed to the employment of 17 arts and cultural workers and activated 32 volunteers in arts and cultural projects.”
Projects
Youth Cre8 Pride Music Productions (Youth Link Kuranda) Growing our Community -Sculptural Installations (Mt Molloy State School) #SUP? -Performance Lab (Centre for Australasian Theatre) Mareeba Military Muster Kuranda Arts Cooperative Video Documentation (Kuranda Arts Cooperative) Mareeba History through Film and Voice (Mareeba Historical Society) Roscommon Park Mural (Frances and Tony Every)The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Mareeba Shire Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
JOHN DOYLE BRIDGE UPGRADESafe access for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters will be maintained during the upgrade project of the John Doyle Bridge in Mareeba.
The John Doyle Bridge on Anzac Avenue will undergo a major upgrade to reinstate the bridge’s 44-tonne capacity.
Council acknowledges that the John Doyle Bridge provides critical pedestrian and vehicular access between the eastern side of Mareeba and the CBD and as a result considered several options to maintain pedestrian access during the construction phase of the project.
A council spokesperson said while the bridge will remain closed to all vehicular traffic during the construction phase, it was essential to maintain pedestrian access for residents.
“Council considered several alternatives for pedestrian management during construction including putting in a temporary footbridge for all-abilities access on the downstream side of the bridge,” he said.
“This means residents will still be able to walk, run, cycle and cross the Baron River on mobility scooters throughout the delivery of the project.”
A condition report for the John Doyle Bridge was received by Council in 2017 recommending that a temporary load restriction of 5 tonnes and a speed limit of 50km/hr was implemented immediately until the superstructure of the bridge was repaired or upgraded. The project will reinstate like-for-like access for vehicles and pedestrians across the Barron River and return the bridge to a 44-tonne load limit at the completion of construction. Works are scheduled to commence after the wet season, once the height of the river is approximately three metres below the bridge to allow for scaffolding erection and the inclusion of a pedestrian bridge.
During the construction phase, the bridge will remain closed to all vehicular traffic. A Council spokesperson said motorists will expect traffic delays and there will be detours put in place to get to and from the CBD from the eastern side of town. Council is currently finalising the traffic management plans regarding the closure of the John Doyle Bridge and this information will be released shortly.
“Residents can be assured that Council is doing everything possible to minimise disruption and keep the flow of traffic while this project is being carried out,” a spokes person said.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Bridges Renewal Program, the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland Program and Mareeba Shire Council.
Construction will commence after the wet season and will take approximately 95 working days to complete. For updates, please visit Council’s website or Facebook page.
MORE CARPARKS FOR MAREEBA CBDCouncil today released plans for a new carpark in Mareeba’s CBD to provide free all-day parking for the community.
The expansion of the Railway Avenue carpark will significantly increase the number of off-street parks for those working, shopping or visiting the CBD area.
Council allocated funding for this project in the capital works program and secured further funding from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) under Round 2 of the Transport and Tourism Connections (TTC) Program towards the project.
A Council spokesperson said Council was very appreciative of the Queensland Government’s contribution towards the project. “This additional grant will enable Council to deliver the full scope of works for the new carpark including new lighting, additional motorcycle and RV parking, and traffic flow improvements along Railway Avenue.”
Construction is programmed to commence in late April 2020 and will take approximately two months to complete. Residents and businesses impacted by the works will be notified prior to commencement.
DRIVE NORTHTropical Tourism North Queensland (TTNQ) is implementing a refreshed ‘Drive North’ campaign to promote the region. Council today agreed to contribute financially towards the initiative through the local tourism organisation, Tropical Tablelands Tourism.
A council spokesperson said the financial contribution of $2,500 is in addition to the annual donation of $25,000 already provided by Council to promote the Shire.
“Council is aware of the effects the January bushfires, now the outbreak of COVID-19 is having on the tourism industry, particularly in the Far North,” he said.
“For these reasons, the Council agreed to contribute to TTNQ’s latest campaign to help promote our unique part of the world to the rest of the region.”
Key elements of the initiative include a joint consumer website featuring itineraries, product listings (from ATDW) and trip planning information supported by campaign activity including print ads, postcards, regional TV and digital promotional material. Visit www.drivenorthqueensland.com.au.