Water Main Upgrade Herberton Street and Walsh Street Roundabout, Mareeba

Water Main Upgrade | Mareeba Shire Council wishes to advise residents of planned work at the Herberton Street and Walsh Street roundabout, from Monday, 3 April 2023 to Wednesday, 12 April 2023.

The project will affect traffic movements along the Herberton Street and Walsh Street roundabout during the Easter School Holidays, with full lane closures at the roundabouts and traffic detours in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained during the project.

The closure marks the start of a project to replace the water main below the roundabout in three stages Walsh Street, on the northern side of the roundabout, will remain open to provide delivery vehicles access to Coles.

Mayor Angela Toppin explains, “This project will address ongoing issues with potholes at the roundabout, and by upgrading the water main below the surface first, Council will minimise the risk of the smooth-running surface being damaged shortly after the work has been completed due to a possible water leak.”

“Council was presented with several options in the planning of this project, and it was decided that full lane closures will minimise queue lengths and provide the contractor with enough room to complete the project in a safe and efficient manner.”

“After completing the water main upgrade, the roundabout will be re-asphalted under a full lane closure at night.”

The replacement of failed asbestos cement pipes is one of the major projects under Council’s water strategy which will see the continued provision of safe drinking water to an estimated 11,000 residents.

“This project commenced in 2019 and total investment to date is $12.3 million, with total length replaced approximately nineteen kilometres.”

An allocation in the 2022/23 Capital Works program has been provided to replace the failed existing asbestos cement water mains throughout the Shire as Council’s strategy to address critical water issues across the Shire over the next 10 years.

“Like most rural and regional areas, much of the Shire’s urban drinking water supply infrastructure was installed in the 1950s to 1960s and is approaching the end of its useful life,” Mayor Toppin concluded.

Council apologises for the inconvenience caused. For more information, please contact Council on 1300 308 461.