Mareeba Shire Council recently completed the upgrade of the Barang Street Sewerage Pump Station at Kuranda, achieving environmental values, community sustainability and economic development.
Mayor Tom Gilmore thanked the Queensland Government for recognising the need to upgrade the critical infrastructure.
“We are very appreciative of the Queensland Government for its financial contribution towards the project.” Cr Gilmore said.
“The upgrade of the storage capacity at the Kuranda Barang Street Sewerage Pump Station will mitigate serious risk of environmental harm and public health risks caused by sewage overflows into Jumrum Creek and onto tourist walking tracks in World Heritage-listed rainforests.
“In recent years, Council has experienced occasional emergency overflow events into Jumrum Conservation Park and Jumrum Creek which presents serious risk to the ecological balance of the waterway,” Cr Gilmore said.
The upgrade enables the further protection of the environmental and cultural values of the adjacent Jumrum Creek Conservation Park which is home to protected flora and endangered species.
Councillor Gilmore said the pump station upgrade also allows for the further development of walking trails in the area.
“The upgrade was a prerequisite for the development of walking trails around the village and the Barron Falls,” Cr Gilmore said.
“The Kuranda Village attracts on average 900,000 visitors each year who travel to the region to experience the ambience of the unique tourist town in the rainforest.
“Council is currently planning for the development of the Barron Falls Walking Trails, connecting the Village with the Barron Falls,” Cr Gilmore said.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the Queensland Government is proud to support Mareeba Shire Council through the Building our Regions program.
“Building our Regions demonstrates our commitment to working with regional councils, to deliver the vital infrastructure communities need to grow and thrive,” Mr Dick said.
“The upgrade of Barang Street Sewerage Pump Station will ensure the region is sustained by the right infrastructure well into the future.”The project was funded by the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions program and Mareeba Shire Council.