Col Jeanes Place
A Kuranda man who gave back to his community for more than three decades will be remembered with a dedicated space named in his honour.
Council today agreed to recognise the valued contribution Col Jeanes made to the Kuranda community and approved the installation of a carved wooden sign and brass plaque naming the open footpath area outside St Saviours Church in Kuranda as “Col Jeanes Place”.
Known to residents as ‘the local legend’ Col spent the last thirty years in a wheelchair following a hang gliding accident in the 1980’s. However, Mr Jeanes continued to take an active role in the Kuranda community by selling raffle tickets, joke books and pens to raise money for the local Lions Club. Col became a permanent fixture outside the Church and entertained tourists and locals who stopped to talk with him in his wheelchair.
Mayor Tom Gilmore said it was only fitting that the place where Col raised hundreds of dollars for his community was named in his honour. “He was such a wonderful gentleman,” Cr Gilmore said.
“Col served the Kuranda community by raising countless funds over many years for Lions projects which benefitted the local primary school, sporting clubs and other community projects.”
Closure of Mt Spurgeon Road
In the interest of public safety, Council today voted to close Mt Spurgeon Road at Mt Carbine.
The road which provides access to the National Park and two privately owned properties is used by four wheel drive enthusiasts who cause damage to the road surface in addition to severe erosion caused after rainfall.
Mayor Tom Gilmore explained that Council undertakes a yearly maintenance grade on the road however this is not sufficient to keep the road in a safe and trafficable condition. “Excessive use of Mt Spurgeon Road by recreational four wheel drivers, campers and tourists continually leave the road in an extremely dangerous and impassable condition effectively isolating the property owners until Council can carry out maintenance repairs,” Cr Gilmore said
“The costs associated with maintaining the road is extraordinary. Costs can be up to $30,000 per repair and often require at least five maintenance treatments per year.”
A lockable gate, short section of fencing and advanced warning signage will be erected to close the road and access will be granted by permit only.
Council will review this motion in 12months time.
Capital Works
Keegan Street, Mareeba Industrial Park
Construction of Keegan Street at the Mareeba Industrial Park was completed in late August and provides a sealed link road between Gowan Street and Martin Tenni Drive.
Works included underground stormwater drainage, subsoil drainage, extension of Ergon conduit, kerb and channel installation, roadworks, asphalt sealing and road furniture. An asphalt turn around area was also constructed at the southern end of Effley Street under the same project number.
Sunbird Park Footpath Extensions
Concrete footpath works have been constructed at Sunbird Park, Mareeba providing a link between the existing concrete footpaths at Sunbird Parade and the park adjacent to Ceola Drive.
The scope of works included the installation of 363m of 2m wide concrete footpath and the fitting of 100m of pedestrian hand rails.
Christmas Opening Hours 2016
Council wishes to advise that on Friday 16 December 2016 the service centres in Mareeba and Kuranda will be closed from 12 pm for a staff function. Management would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. Council’s after hours service will operate during the afternoon and staff will be available to deal with critical and emergency issues.
Gazetted public holidays for the 2016/17 Christmas and News Year period fall on Monday 26 December 2016, Tuesday 27 December 2016 and Monday 2 January 2017. Consequently, Mareeba Shire Council will be closed from 5 pm Friday 23 December 2016 and will re-open 8.30 am Tuesday 3 January 2017. Council’s after hours service will operate during this period, and staff will be available to deal with critical and emergency issues.