Location: Kowa Street, Mareeba, QLD, 4880
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7:00am – 4:00pm
NATA Accredited Laboratory #9523
Phone: 1300 308 461 ┃ 07 4086 4712
Email: paulp@msc.qld.gov.au
Mareeba Shire Council’s Materials Testing Laboratory provides comprehensive construction materials testing services for industrial, commercial, and civil infrastructure projects, including roads, pipelines, bridges, and subdivisions.
The laboratory delivers quality assurance testing for aggregates, soils, and concrete throughout the construction phase, ensuring materials meet project specifications and industry standards. Staffed by a team of highly qualified technicians, the lab works closely with clients to deliver technically sound, easy-to-understand, and practical solutions.
MSC’s technicians take great pride in their work, consistently aiming to exceed client expectations through accuracy, reliability, and clear communication.
All test methods and internal procedures are conducted in compliance with relevant Australian Standards and regulatory requirements. The team is proud to operate within a NATA-accredited laboratory, upholding the highest standards of technical competence and quality assurance. The Mareeba Facility is registered as a level 2 Supplier within TMR’s Construction Materials Testing Supplier System.
Capabilities
The materials testing team, are qualified and experienced, in a range of materials testing including; soils, aggregate, and concrete.
The laboratory services provide clients with:
- Fast turnaround and accurate test results.
- Reliable service.
- Knowledgeable and professional technicians.
- Integrity and compliance in line with the NATA requirements, for laboratory testing.
Resources
GIS Database
The Soils laboratory works closely with the Council’s GIS department, which provides a valuable resource of background knowledge and understanding of both site specific and regional conditions, as well as state of the art mapping.
For traceability, all on-site sampling and testing locations are georeferenced using GPS coordinates to ensure spatial accuracy and reproducibility. This data is integrated into Council’s mapping system, providing complete traceability and enabling precise monitoring over time. Such accuracy supports compliance, data integrity, and reliable decision-making. This approach provides full traceability, making it easy to track, verify, and revisit sites when needed. It gives our clients confidence that every result is backed by accurate location data.
Survey
Council surveyors provide an important asset, with the latest drone technology used for aerial mapping, which provides faster and more detailed data
Types of Testing
Soils Testing
The laboratory can provide a broad range of testing to determine soil characteristics and properties, from CBR testing to determine pavement thickness designs to soil classification testing for commercial and industrial developments.
Concrete Testing
Concrete testing for various applications is another area that the laboratory can provide services for, including pavements, bridges, drainage culverts and headwalls, industrial, commercial and buildings, precast walls, and retaining walls.
Aggregate Testing
The laboratory is also equipped to provide aggregate testing for quarry production and quality assurance conformance to a range of specifications for pavement gravels, drainage materials, asphalt materials and concrete mixes, and can undertake testing for size, shape, durability, strength, density and chemical.
Compaction testing and inspection
The laboratory can provide compaction testing services during construction in order to verify that the soil has been compacted in accordance with the specification. The laboratory services industries, including state and local government, property developers, and small business.
Penetration and Deflection Testing
The materials technicians can provide tests to determine bearing capacity for footing designs and carne pads and well as deflection testing for road pavements.
Recent Projects
