Works will soon be underway for the Walsh Street Mareeba Safety and Stormwater Improvements project.
“The project to upgrade Walsh Street between Herberton and Rankin Streets will improve pedestrian safety, traffic flow, stormwater infrastructure and landscaping,” said Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin.
“While the plan to improve this section has been in the works for a number of years, we were able to take key community priorities from the recent Mareeba CBD Blueprint Masterplan to inform our plan for this space,” said Mayor Toppin.
Key Improvements
• Improved Traffic Movement: Installation of vehicle detection loops on the Rankin Street approach to the Byrnes St traffic will detect when traffic is backing up closer to the Rankin Street roundabout. The device will communicate with the traffic lights on Byrnes Street, prompting the lights to prioritise the release of traffic from the Rankin Street roundabout, particularly during peak times such as the 3:00 pm school pickup period.
• Traffic Safety and Flow: Reconfiguration of the Walsh-Rankin Street roundabout will improve traffic safety and traffic flow and will ensure long vehicles have more space. Lighting upgrades will improve nighttime visibility. The exit from the K-hub carpark will be located beyond the pedestrian crossing.
• Safer Pedestrian Access: A new pedestrian crossing will be installed between K-Hub and Coles with upgraded lighting and a centre median refuge. Roundabout upgrades include kerb buildouts and pedestrian refuges to make crossing easier and provide better connections to footpaths and businesses.
• Improved Amenity: Accessible footpath connections and landscaping will reflect community priorities identified in the Mareeba CBD Project Blueprint Masterplan.
• Stormwater Upgrade: New infrastructure will increase stormwater management capacity from Herberton Street to Hastie Street via Rankin and Constance Streets. Additional stormwater pits will capture surface water from the kerbs and divert it into an underground stormwater network.
Project Details
• Timeline: The anticipated duration of the project is 20 weeks, starting in late February 2026. The timeline of works is heavily dependent on delivery of supplies and favourable weather conditions. The project will commence at the Constance-Hastie Street intersection and conclude on Walsh Street, between Herberton and Rankin Street. Not all areas of the project will be impacted at the same time.
• Potential Interruptions: Plans are in place to keep traffic moving throughout the project. The community should expect some temporary changes to traffic, including detours at times. The works are not expected to impact on water or sewerage services. Disruptions to driveway access will be kept to a minimum wherever possible. Any temporary access changes will be communicated to impacted properties.
This project is supported by the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program, the Queensland Government’s Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) and Mareeba Shire Council.
For more information, please visit Walsh Street Safety & Stormwater Upgrade Project FAQ’s.