Items of Interest – Ordinary Council Meeting, 21 August 2024

The following items were addressed at the Ordinary Meeting of Mareeba Shire Council on Wednesday, 21 August 2024.

CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM ON TRACK AND WITHIN BUDGET. 2

COUNCIL RE-SIGNS REEF GUARDIAN COMMITMENT. 4

FIRE MANAGEMENT A JOINT OPERATION.. 5

CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM ON TRACK AND WITHIN BUDGET

Council is pleased to announce the completion of several significant capital works projects across the Shire, with many more planned for the next 12 months.

“These projects represent a significant investment in the Shire’s growth, safety and sustainability,” Deputy Mayor Councillor Lenore Wyatt said.

2024/25 Gravel Resheet Program

One project, the 2024/25 Gravel Resheet Program, commenced in July with sections of Hurricane Road and Karma Water Road resheeted using material from existing roadside pits.

Cr Wyatt said, “We as a Council are committed to investing in our extensive road network, which includes 1,639 kilometres of unsealed roads. That might not sound like a lot, but it is almost as far as the road from Cairns to Brisbane, which equals 1,698 kilometres in distance.”

“The work on our rural roads is funded by depreciation cost and are carried out generally in conjunction with road grading activities to reduce the cost of the moving of equipment throughout the Shire. Council will continue with the resheet program as resources come available and the weather permits.”

Springmount Road Culvert and Curve Widening

Springmount Road is a critical transport route, servicing the regional sugar mill and landfill facilities as well as quarrying and agriculture purposes.

Cr Wyatt explained, “In 2020, Council received a request through the Traffic Advisory Committee from a representative from the heavy transport industry to widen several curves on the road, to provide the adequate lane widths to cater for heavy vehicles.”

“The widening and sealing of three narrow sections have been completed and the application of line marking and installing of the road furniture finished last month. Road furniture is best described as the as the additional items that are installed after a road is sealed such as road edge guideposts and signage.”

Another project on Springmount Road, to relocate a fibre optic cable and a power pole, and to rehabilitate and widen the road’s intersection with Collins Weir Road, has been completed.

“In July, the work associated with earthworks, culvert extensions and the channel overflow crossings were finished, and several sections of failed subgrade was removed and replaced with rock, bidim and road base. The project was practically completed on Friday, 16 August with the asphalting of the intersection.”

Myola Road, Kuranda Upgraded

In the 2023/2024 Capital Works Program, Road to Recovery funding was made available to upgrade a three (3) kilometre section of Myola Road to extend the pavement’s functional life.

“The upgrade includes pavement milling with asphalt patching, followed by a bitumen seal. The three-kilometre section is adjacent to the Kuranda District College and Council programmed the work to commence during the school holidays. The last of the milling and asphalt filling was completed on Friday, 16 August. The bitumen seal will be applied in a few weeks’ time after the asphalt patching has settled.”

Ootann Road Widen and Seal of Two Sections

In July, Council commenced a project to widen, seal and upgrade the drainage at two sections of Ootann Road. This upgrade was made possible by funding received from the Australian Government under their Investment Road and Rail Program.

The funding will cover 80% of the design and construction costs with the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) contributing 10% and Mareeba Shire Council the remaining 10%.

“To date, all clearing and grubbing work has been completed as well as the culvert extensions in section one (1). The culvert extensions in section two (2) are ongoing, and cut to fill operations in both sections are well progressed with subgrade level being reached in a number of locations.”

Mareeba Cemetery New Mausoleum

The practical completion of a new mausoleum wall, in Mareeba, with the capacity of 60 internments was reached last month.

“Mausoleum walls are frequently chosen by residents for burials rather than a headstone. The walls are specially constructed by Council to appropriately house coffins in niches above the ground and Council has mausoleums in both Dimbulah and Mareeba.”

“We look forward to seeing many more projects happening around the Shire as we progress with our capital works program,” Deputy Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt concluded.

 COUNCIL RE-SIGNS REEF GUARDIAN COMMITMENT

At the Ordinary Council meeting on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, Council adopted the Reef Guardian Action Plan 2024 – 2028.

“The Reef Guardian Council program is a collaborative stewardship arrangement where local governments across Queensland work together towards the health of the Great Barrier Reef,” Deputy Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt said.

“Through our responsibilities, we deliver many actions that support the outcomes of the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Program. Council’s Reef Guardian Action Plan identifies the statutory and non-statutory actions to manage the threats to the Great Barrier Reef, and support the community in understanding and appreciating the Reef’s values.”

“While we do not live right beside the Reef, we are committed to taking practical, on-ground action to help the Reef. Many of our residents live in the Barron River catchment, and what we do on land can have a direct impact on the Reef.

“Reef Guardian activities achieved by the Council in the past year include the installation of new ‘Containers for Change’ public street bins in Kuranda, with a roll out planed for Dimbulah and Mareeba later this year. Additionally, Council now has eleven of its facilities generating solar power with on-site solar and 1,369,174 kilowatts of power has been generated for these facilities over the last three years.”

“Current projects include the upgrading of the Barron River Catchment sewerage infrastructure, by remediating up to 1000 sewer manholes to protect the health of our waterways, and the replacing of expansion joints in the 50-metre pool in Mareeba to prevent water leaching.”

“The above examples show the many ways we can contribute to the health of the Reef and how our collective efforts and the efforts of various stakeholders can address the key threats to the Reef.”

“For further information, and to read more about our efforts and how you can help, visit Council’s website for a copy of our Reef Guardian Action Plan 2024 – 2025,” Cr Wyatt concluded.

FIRE MANAGEMENT A JOINT OPERATION

At the Ordinary Council meeting on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, an update was provided to Councillors on fire management projects completed across the Shire in July, for the protection of residential, commercial and rural assets.

“Fuel reduction burns, and the creation of fire breaks form a major component of Council’s fire management strategy and are programmed to occur at the earliest possible time after the wet season when vegetation is in a condition to be burnt,” Deputy Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt said.

“In July, Council worked on fire breaks in Mareeba, Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine, Irvinebank, Watsonville and Chillagoe and completed two hazard reduction burns.”

“The hazard reduction burns were completed in Mareeba at Adil Road and Hickling Avenue and on the corner of Hastie Road and Emerald End Road, with the second burn a joint effort between Council and the Davies Creek Rural Fire Brigade.”

“One (1) burn was carried out by the Mt Carbine Rural Fire Brigade between the Mulligan Highway and Mt Spurgeon Road and Brooklyn Village.”

“Additionally, the Watsonville Rural Fire Brigade and the Department of Resources completed a burn at Watsonville and volunteers completed a burn in Chillagoe.”

“Council makes use of hazard mitigation burns under our Fire Mitigation Plan to prepare for disasters. Hazard mitigation burns can reduce the risk and intensity of bushfires and the potential impact on communities and infrastructure. Council completes hazard mitigation burns as part of our disaster preparedness Planned burns also assist with the ecological health of our shire, promoting the biodiversity and conservation of species and habitats.”

“Completing the hazard reduction burns before the hot weather arrives is important to reduce risk. People living in bushland or in rural residential areas are generally at higher risk of fire than those living in urban areas.”

“We encourage all landowners to begin their preparations as early as possible and residents are reminded to understand their risk and to get ready for any weather event.”

“Visit Council’s Emergency Management Dashboard and click on ‘Get Ready’ to learn more,” Cr Wyatt concluded.

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