Items of Interest – Ordinary Council Meeting, 20 September 2023

The following items were addressed at the Ordinary Meeting of Mareeba Shire Council on Wednesday, 20 September 2023.

COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGES IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY

Pictured: Mareeba Shire Council Councillors, Giuliano Cordenos and Gina Cordenos

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, Mareeba Shire Council welcomed Mr Giuliano Cordenos and his wife, Gina, for a morning tea in celebration of his 25 years of service to the Mareeba Multicultural Festival.

Past Committee Chair, Mr Giuliano Cordenos, said the festival grew out of the impact of rainy weather traditionally experienced on Australia Day in January and the need for our community to celebrate what unites us at a special one-day long event.

Asked how he feels about the decision to step away from the Committee, he said he is thankful for the relationships formed and the success of the event.

“We started in August 1999 with little to no supplies. Since then, the event has continued to grow and we provide a chance for everyone to enjoy a little bit of the many cultures which makes up our Shire. I am happy to leave knowing we have created a wonderful event for Mareeba. I would like to thank my wife, Gina, and my fellow committee members for their support.”

Committee Chair Councillor Mary Graham thanked Mr Cordenos for his commitment to valuing a culturally diverse community and wished Giuliano and Gina all the best for their twilight years.

“The partnerships fostered across all sectors of the community are key to the longevity of the event and testament to the importance placed on delivering positive social outcomes. Giuliano started this event in 1999 and on behalf of the Committee and Mareeba Shire Council, I would like to thank him once again for his commitment and hard work.”

Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin said, “Council acknowledges and values the significant contribution that volunteers make to the Mareeba Shire community. People volunteer for a range of different reasons and volunteers enhance the quality of life and community spirit in their regions.”

“Volunteers provide vital support to many areas, from sporting clubs, community organisations, community events and Council Advisory Committees, and I thank them for their contribution to our Shire,” Mayor Toppin concluded.

The Kuranda Visitor Information Centre is recruiting to build up our award-winning Volunteer Team. Join our friendly team today and help make Kuranda a great place to visit. Visit Council’s website for more information.

PROJECTS COMPLETED ACROSS THE SHIRE

With an ambitious capital works program planned for 2023/24, Mareeba Shire Council is making progress with many projects across the shire.

Mareeba Shire Council Mayor, Angela Toppin said that a project to replace the roof of the Dimbulah Memorial Hall was completed in August 2023. The existing roof was reaching the end of its useful life and was not in a good enough condition to have solar panels installed on it.

“The project was a complete replacement of the metal roof sheeting and associated flashings and guttering to waterproof the building. The scope of works also included an upgrade of the insulation of the building.”

“The completed works are essential to enable subsequent solar panel installation and air-conditioning of the building under a separate project.”

“The hall is at the heart of Dimbulah and various groups and organisations use the hall on a weekly basis, including Council’s library service. I am delighted to see this project progressing and I know the addition of air-conditioning will be well received by our growing Dimbulah community.”

“Another project, to upgrade Anzac Park, Mareeba is progressing well. The concrete footpath has been completed and the final section of tiling work has commenced. The rear wall, located on the Railway Avenue side of the park, has been constructed and rendered and the gates are being installed.”

“It was wonderful that the park could be partially opened in time for the Vietnam Veteran’s Day service on Friday, 18 August 2023. The newly installed lights in the park were programmed to light the park in gold to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. I look forward to the completion of this important project.”

“The project to revitalise Bicentennial Lakes, Mareeba is progressing well with the weirs removed in the Southern Lakes precinct. The removal of the weirs will allow the ground to dry before staff can proceed with the reshaping of the lake to form a gully. Preparations are underway offsite, and material will be brought in to commence the reshaping works.”

“The southern section will include a range of new facilities including playground equipment. Procurement commenced in August and a report was tabled at today’s Ordinary Council Meeting.  It is estimated that the playground will be completed by early next year.”

“Another project adjacent to the Bicentennial Lakes, Mareeba, the Sewer Gravity Main project, commenced in May 2023 and is tracking well. This sewer main connects the previously upgraded section upstream from Rankin Street and discharges upstream of the Granite Creek pump station at Byrnes Street.”

“These essential works are part of a planned Council Infrastructure upgrade to supply and install a new trunk sewer pipeline to service our growing community and is expected to be completed in November 2023. There will be some disruption of traffic in Keeble Street in the coming month, but we will do what we can to minimise this”

“The project is grant funded through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) via the Qld Resilience & Risk Reduction Funding Program (QRRRF).”

“For additional information on Bicentennial Lakes Gravity Sewer Main Upgrade, please visit Council’s website,” Mayor Toppin concluded.

TENDER APPROVED BICENTENNIAL LAKES PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

The Bicentennial Lakes Revitalisation Project is one step closer to completion after the approval of the play equipment at today’s Ordinary Council Meeting. This project will activate the Lakes, breathing life back into the area and surrounds for the enjoyment of our community and visitors.

Mayor Angela Toppin said, “Council awarded the Bicentennial Lakes Playground Design and Installation tender to Bigsplash Playgrounds Pty Ltd at today’s Ordinary Council Meeting.”

“Bigsplash is a local Cairns based company specialising in the supply and installation of ‘Forpark’ playground equipment. Their preliminary concept plan indicated a proposal consistent with the specified scope of works in accordance with Council and community expectations.”

“The project’s scope of works was a result of extensive community engagement. Following the engagement, Council included a double flying fox, embankment slides, rope or net climb, double swing set and shade sail to the list of items that needs to be included in the project. Council Officers can now proceed with ordering the equipment and it is expected that the equipment will be installed early next year.”

“Additional funds have been allocated towards covered tables and seating, additional lighting, improved accessibility, a new amenities block, and a pump track. Construction of the pump track is scheduled to commence in December 2023.”

“I would like to thank residents for their patience while we complete this important project and I invite community members to visit Council’s website for more information,” Mayor Angela Toppin concluded.

GULLY BETTERMENT PROGRAM TRIALED IN SHIRE

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, Mareeba Shire Council awarded the contract for the Gully Betterment Program to S&K Civil Pty Ltd, subject to Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) approval.

Mayor Angela Toppin explains, “Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) declared the ‘Far North Queensland Low Pressure Trough, 1 – 7 February 2022’ a natural disaster event, triggering Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) which provide local governments with assistance to reinstate essential infrastructure. Over and above the restoration work the QRA have approved a Betterment project which will hopefully result in less damage in future events.”

The project is jointly funded (50:50) by the Australian and Queensland Governments and enables the reconstruction of public assets to a more disaster resilient standard. “The reinstated civil infrastructure will achieve resilience improvements for those sites included within the contract and should present long term savings at all levels of Government.”

“It is encouraging to see that as a Council we are continuously looking at ways to adjust our working methods to provide cost effective solutions to our growing community.”

“While preparing the schedule of impacted assets for submission to the QRA for Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets (REPA) damaged during the Event, Council Officers separated the creek and gully crossings to allow review with the intent of preparing a Betterment Program.”

“QRA have decided to trial a pilot program in Mareeba Shire where a range of creek and gully crossings on specific roads will receive Betterment upgrades selected from three approved treatment designs.”

“This is a positive way forward and if successful could lead to a review of how Betterment funding is allocated throughout the State,” Mayor Toppin concluded.

WORK CONTINUES ON REDUCING WASTE

At today’s Ordinary Council Meeting a report was received that summarises Council’s Water and Waste activities undertaken by the Infrastructure Services Department during the month of August 2023.

Mayor Toppin said it is encouraging to see that residents are continuing to take advantage of Council’s quarterly ‘Free Domestic Green Waste Days’.

“In August, Council received a total of 215.1 tonnes of green waste of which 104.1 tonnes was received on the ‘free’ days. The Mareeba Transfer Station received the largest amount of green waste, with Kuranda Transfer Station the second most. Kuranda recorded 2.5 tonnes of green waste from locations registered as being potentially contaminated with Electric Ants and this waste was disposed of correctly.”

“Transfer Stations are conveniently located across the Shire, and I would like to encourage residents to continue to minimise the amount of waste they produce and to look for ways to recycle.”

“Waste material collected at each of the transfer stations are either deposited directly to the Springmount Waste Facility, recycled, or transported to the Veolia Advanced Resource Recovery Facility (ARRF) in Cairns for processing. During August, 507 tonnes of waste was processed through the ARRF, 11.8 tonnes of domestic items were recycled at the Material Resource Facility (MRF) and 126 tonnes of waste was sent to landfill.”

“We all have a responsibility to minimize the waste that we produce due to the ongoing long-term effects it has on our environment. I look forward to Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week coming up in November, as this is a wonderful time for all of us to brush up on our recycling knowledge.”

“Sign up to Council’s e-newsletter or follow our Social Media channels for more information on how to become and remain a successful recycler,” Mayor Toppin concluded.

TENDERS APPROVED FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, Council approved the Manhole Rehabilitation and Replacement Program and the AC Water Main Replacement to NQ Wastetrans Pty Ltd.

Mayor Angela Toppin said, “Council has allocated funding under the 2023/24 capital budget for the renewal of this critical water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure continuity of supply to our customers.”

“Investigations on manholes within this catchment found that 257 manholes located within private and public property required remediation works,” Mayor Toppin explained.

“Council will remediate the manholes within the Mareeba Sewerage Reticulation network for the Granite Creek Pump Station catchment to reduce inflow and infiltration. The manholes requiring remediation works is located within Mareeba CBD, to the west of Byrnes Street, and to the north of Lloyd Street.”

“The work to be performed under this contract comprises the provision of all materials, plant and labour and the performance of all operations necessary for the complete and proper rehabilitation of the identified manholes.”

“Another project to replace ageing water mains throughout the Shire is progressing well and the contractor can now proceed with the supply and installation of a new water main from the intersection at Costin Street, Mareeba along the entire length of Mason Street to the Ferguson Street intersection,” Mayor Toppin explained.

“The existing water main is a combination of asbestos cement (AC), cast iron and thin-walled white PVC and will be decommissioned after the replacement is completed. This project is set to be practically complete by April 2024,” Mayor Angela Toppin concluded.

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