Items of Interest – Council Meeting 21 July 2021

CHILLAGOE TRANSFER STATION – CHANGE OF OPERATING HOURS

Mareeba Shire Council has responded to community feedback regarding the opening hours of the Chillagoe Waste Transfer Station.

Mareeba Shire Mayor, Angela Toppin, said the decision to change the operating hours from Tuesday, 9:00am until 12:00pm to Monday, 9am to 12:00pm was in response to numerous requests from community members.

“This decision was made in recognition that the Chillagoe business operators and residents know what is needed for the community. Chillagoe is a popular destination for self-drive tourists and by opening the waste transfer station on a Monday, it allows the rubbish which accumulates on the weekend to be promptly disposed of.”

Mayor Toppin said that the change to the opening hours at the transfer station is expected to have a flow on effect and will further enhance the appeal of Chillagoe as a destination for Australian travellers.

“Council is working with business and community to support the COVID recovery, and this includes making decisions that support locally-driven activities.” The change to the Chillagoe Waste Transfer Station opening hours will take effect from Monday, 2 August 2021, with the Transfer Station continuing to open on Thursday and Saturday as well, as per the current arrangements.

MITCHELL RIVER WATERSHED TAKES ON MANAGEMENT OF ABATTOIR SWAMP

Mareeba Shire Council and the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group Inc. have entered into an Agreement which will see the natural resource group manage the Abattoir Swamp Environmental Park in Julatten for the next five years.

Mayor Angela Toppin hailed the community management arrangement as a way to allow the local community to take control of the future of the environmental park.

“Council is pleased to enter into a Management Agreement with the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group to take on this important role in managing a valuable natural resource in Julatten. The not-for-profit organisation is well placed to continue to improve the condition and public use of the facility.”

In recent years, Council partnered with JAMMAR and a local Work for the Dole provider to implement significant improvements at the site, including refurbished walking paths and replacing deteriorated infrastructure, but community management of Abattoir Swamp is expected to create additional opportunities for improvements.

Mayor Toppin commended the Management Committee, “Already, the group is exploring options for land and weed management and is consulting broadly across the community regarding sustainable strategies to manage the site.”

“Council views community management arrangements as a means to expand the possibilities at community facilities. We recognise that not-for-profit groups can access funding programs which are not available to local government authorities and that, often, the local expertise and energy provided by the management group result in much greater outcomes than would have been achieved by Council alone.”

SHOW HOLIDAYS Council has approved the Show Holidays for 2022. In line with previous years these are linked to the Shows in Atherton, Mossman and Cairns and apply to the various areas of the Shire closest to these centres. The Show Holidays Act allows Councils to declare Show Holidays linked to either agricultural or industrial shows and as Mareeba does not have an annual agricultural show Council links its show holidays to the adjoining town shows.

CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE

MAREEBA POUND UPGRADE Condition inspections identified that Council’s existing Mareeba Pound had reached the end of its functional use and a new, modern facility was needed. Funded via Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland Program, the project will provide for a modern facility that meets current standards for health and safety and animal welfare. The project provides for the construction of a dual-purpose facility that supports Council’s impoundment requirements and serves as an animal refuge and kennel. The project is progressing well with the northern dog and cat runs complete and turf installed, along with the internal fit out and flooring. Council expects that the project will be completed by the end of August 2021.

MAREEBA LEAGUES CLUB ROOF RENEWAL The Mareeba Leagues Club has serviced the community for the past 27 years. Council recently completed a major project to replace approximately half of the roof which had deteriorated due to the age of the building. Works for the partial roof replacement commenced following the wet season and are now complete.

MASON STREET SEWER DUPLICATION PROJECT Council has received funding from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority under the Local Economic Recovery Program for the Mason Street Sewer Main Upgrade Project. Phase 1 of the project has commenced with a new sewer main installed between Morrow and Perkins Streets in Mareeba. The works will now be concentrated through the road corridor adjacent to the Pioneer Cemetery through to the connection point on the existing sewer main behind properties along Owens Street.

SPEEWAH ROAD PAVEMENT REHABILITATION Speewah Road provides access to the rural community of Speewah and due to the growing volumes of traffic, there was a need to undertake pavement rehabilitation works and improvement works to the bus facilities on Speewah Road. Funded under Phase 1 of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, the project works have been completed with the line-marking to be finalised during July, weather permitting.

MAJOR CULVERT RENEWAL – PIN ROAD, MUTCHILBA The causeway over the Walsh River at Pin Road, Mutchilba has been repaired to ensure continued safe access for traffic. The project included the removal and replacement of cracked and damaged topping slabs, reinstatement of washed out backfill and works to the northern and southern headwalls. Funded under Phase 1 of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, the project was completed on Friday, 4 June 2021.

OAKEY CREEK BRIDGE, HODZIC ROAD – GIRDER REPLACEMENT The timber bridge over Oakey Creek on Hodzic Road, Biboohra has recently undergone significant works to replace several timber girders. Funded under Phase 1 of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, the works were undertaken by Council’s bridge crew and included the installation of a side-track to allow for traffic movement while the bridge was out of commission. The important project means that the bridge can continue to provide access to rural properties and a forestry reserve on the western side of Oakey Creek.