Items of Interest – Council Meeting 21 September 2022

PLANS UNDERWAY FOR MARKET

Mareeba Shire Council has granted conditional approval for a new market at Mareeba’s Centenary Park.

Operated by the Mareeba Heritage Centre and named the ‘100 Park Markets’, the markets will be held on the third Saturday of the month.

Mayor Angela Toppin stated, “The very successful Mareeba Markets, operated by the St Thomas’ School P&F, have relocated from Centenary Park to the Mareeba Turf Club, which is a lovely, community managed facility.”

“The Councillors and I wish all of the market organisers every success with their events.”

PARTNERSHIP TO PROMOTE SHIRE

Mareeba Shire Council and the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce will establish a new ‘Local Tourism Organisation (LTO)’ to promote tourism experiences in the Mareeba Shire.

“The goal of this new arrangement is to ensure that tourism operators benefit from marketing and promotional activities that best reflect all that is on offer in our Shire,” Mayor Angela Toppin explained.

“Council and the Mareeba Chamber have been in discussions to find a way forward to ensure that the wonderful attributes of this Shire are effectively promoted.”

Visitors are returning, with total visitor spend in the Mareeba Shire reaching $136.44m in the year ending 30 June 2022. This data from Spendmapp by Geografia (2022) shows the amount spent by visitors, including tourists and residents of neighbouring communities, has increased by 14% since the previous financial year.

Mareeba Chamber of Commerce President, Joe Moro, discussed the new structure.

“We are very pleased to work with Council to try something new to benefit our tourism industry. The Chamber’s Tourism Taskforce was initially established to identify opportunities and challenges facing our tourism operators, and this outcome is a step in the right direction.”

“A LTO plays an important role to tap into tourism promotion opportunities that are not otherwise available to operators.”

“This solution was developed in partnership with the Mareeba Chamber, and in consultation with the Mareeba Heritage Centre, Kuranda Traders Association and Tourism Tropical North Queensland, and we anticipate positive results,” Mayor Toppin said.

Council will continue to deliver visitor information services at the Kuranda Visitor Information Centre, and by funding the Visitor Information Centre at the Mareeba Heritage Centre.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS SUSTAINABILITY

Since opening on 20 August 2022, the Buy Back Shop at Mareeba’s Transfer Station has proven to be a great success.

Councillor Lenore Wyatt, who championed the development of the Buy Back Shop explained, “It is wonderful to see the level of community support for this initiative.”

“Every item that is available in the Buy Back Shop is another valuable item that has been diverted from landfill. This is a major win for our community now and into the future.”

The Buy Back Shop is open every Saturday from 10am – 3pm.

Residents are also continuing to take advantage of Council’s ‘free green waste disposal days’ with 354 vehicles entering the transfer stations with green waste on the dates in August. Visit Council’s website for more information on future ‘free green waste disposal days.’

MAREEBA WALKING NETWORK PLANNING UNDERWAY

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, 21 September 2022, Councillors adopted the Mareeba Walking Network Plan which will be used to help identify priority projects in the future.

Developed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, the Plan is an outcome of the Queensland Government’s Walking Strategy.

Mareeba Shire Council Mayor, Angela Toppin explained, “The Walking Network Plan identifies walking routes which can connect key destinations like schools, parks, shops and health facilities.”

“The Plan will be used, in the future, to identify projects that will have a strategic benefit to the community by encouraging residents to walk to these destinations.”

Transport and Main Roads completed a community consultation workshop in Mareeba in May 2022, which included a session across the town ‘on foot’.

“On behalf of Mareeba Shire Council, I would like to thank the State government for developing this Plan,” Mayor Toppin concluded.

COUNCIL PROJECTS TO IMPROVE ROADS AND FOOTPATHS

With an ambitious capital works program planned for 2022/23, Mareeba Shire Council is making progress with many projects.

Mareeba Shire Council Mayor, Angela Toppin said that a major project is currently underway to widen sections of Euluma Creek Road between Black Mountain Road and McLeans Bridge Road. “The projects are essential to cater for the increase in heavy traffic and to address ongoing defects.”

“Narrow sections of existing bitumen sealed road will also be widened to eight metres and culverts will be replaced and extended.”

Footpaths and trails are also a focus for Council, with a project to re-sheet the old railway line corridor from McIver Road to Vicary Road completed.

“I am very pleased with the re-sheet of the Rail Trail,” Mayor Toppin said. “The upgrade is part of Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Strategy and has been welcomed by community members. The trail can be used by a range of community members, including cyclists, runners, walkers, and horse riders.”

The work includes the addition of safe crossing points where the corridor intersects with local roads. The existing timber railway bridge will be refurbished with new decking and a safety rail by the end of the year.

“I would like to invite community members to get out and enjoy the updated trail. It is a wonderful improvement to tracks in and around our town,” Mayor Toppin concluded.