Items of Interest – Ordinary Council Meeting, 16 October 2024

The following items were addressed at the Ordinary Meeting of Mareeba Shire Council on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.

Annual Report 2023-24 Adopted

16 October 2024

The Mareeba Shire Council Annual Report for 2023-24 has been tabled at today’s Ordinary Council Meeting. The report outlines the key outcomes, projects and services delivered in the reporting period.

“The annual report is Council’s opportunity to share with the community our activities and strategies for the last financial year. I am very pleased to be able to present an unqualified Audit opinion that indicates positive financial sustainability,” said Mayor Angela Toppin.

“The surplus shown is predominantly sourced from the water and wastewater programs and will be held in reserve to put towards funding the critical infrastructure needs in the near future.”

The report includes a snapshot of Mareeba Shire as well as Council’s key service statistics, including:

A total of 2,302km of roads (including 1,639km of unsealed roads) 233km of water mains maintained 49,371 swimming pool admissions across Mareeba, Kuranda and Dimbulah pools 17,934 customer centre calls received 252 hectares of parks, gardens and open spaces maintained

“Council’s $34.5 million capital works program was a cornerstone of our efforts this year,” said Mayor Toppin.

“The Australian and Queensland governments provided $22.8 million, a crucial investment for the renewal of existing assets, including $7.67 million allocated to transport infrastructure, $5.69 million for wastewater infrastructure, and $2.63 million for water infrastructure.”

“Additionally, we dedicated $4.5 million to enhance community facilities and active recreation assets,” continued Mayor Toppin.

One of Council’s major projects was the Southern Bicentennial Lakes Precinct, which introduced new amenities including a toilet block, playground, and pump track in Mason Street, Mareeba.

Another highlight of the report was that Mareeba Shire Council is among the 29 local governments in Queensland (out of 77) that are not at risk of being financially unsustainable, according to the Queensland Audit Office.

While there were a lot of highlights in this reporting period, the impact of Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the devastating flood event in December 2023 presented significant challenges for our Shire.

“With over 900 calls and 185 requests for assistance during the event, we faced unprecedented requests for support. More than half of our Shire’s road network was affected, as well as critical infrastructure, underscoring the severity of this weather event,” concluded Mayor Toppin.

To read the Annual Report 2023-2024, please visit Council’s website Annual Report – Mareeba Shire Council (msc.qld.gov.au)

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Byrnes Street, Mareeba Road Safety Improvements

16 October 2024

Works will soon begin on the Byrnes Street Safety Improvements project after the tender was awarded at today’s Ordinary Council Meeting.

“The Byrnes Street Safety Improvements project will improve road safety and modernise the median islands and garden beds, ensuring a cohesive look from one end of Byrnes Street to the other,” said Mayor Angela Toppin.

The contract was awarded to Gregg Construction Pty Ltd for $562,822.40 (excluding GST) to carry out the improvements.

The $663,152 project is fully funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. This is part of the broader $1,812,817 in LRCI Phase 4 funding from the Australian Government to deliver a suite of projects in the Shire.

“These improvements will enhance visibility and safety for road users and pedestrians as well as creating safer working conditions for Council’s Parks and Gardens team members,” explained Mayor Toppin.

“New, compact and hardy plants will replace the existing gardens and hedges at the southern end of Byrnes Street, near the BP Service Station and Mareeba Connection Road, as well as at the northern end between Granite Bridge and Jacobson Street,” concluded Mayor Toppin.

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Kuranda Village Streetscape Improvement Project

16 October 2024

Works will soon be underway after two contracts were awarded at today’s Ordinary Council Meeting for streetscape improvements on Coondoo Street, Kuranda. These improvements include footpath pavement upgrades and enhanced lighting along Coondoo Street as part of the ‘Kuranda Village Streetscape Improvements’ project.

“Coondoo Street is a bustling area with high pedestrian traffic from visitors arriving via the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail, as well as tour groups, self-drive tourists and residents accessing shops and services.  Over time, the footpath has deteriorated due to wear and tear and the impact of fig tree roots,” explained Mayor Angela Toppin.

These upgrades were also identified as a high priority in the Kuranda Walking Network Plan, which was adopted by Council in 2022.

Council has awarded the footpath pavement upgrade contract to Perosa Landscaping for $510,915 (excluding GST). The project will involve replacing exposed slabs, repairing pavers and cobble stone and the restoring missing sections of stone in garden beds and retaining walls.

Additionally, i-LEC Solutions has been awarded a $368,980 (excluding GST) contract for lighting improvements on Coondoo Street, including street lighting enhancement and new bud lighting for the fig trees.

“The lighting improvements will see seventeen street lights replaced with new poles and LED fixtures, enhancing visibility and safety. Fourteen fig trees along upper Coondoo St (between Therwine St and Thongon St) will be wrapped in fairy lights to bring sparkle to the village and support twilight trading,” said Mayor Toppin.

“We are delighted to secure a $200,000 grant from the Queensland Government, Department of Tourism and Sport, as part of the Building Bush Tourism Fund to support these upgrades. The remaining costs are being funded through the Kuranda Infrastructure Fund,” Mayor Toppin added.

“Council completed community consultation for enhancements to Coondoo Street in 2023 and we would like to thank residents and business owners for their valuable inputs regarding the project,” concluded Mayor Toppin.

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