APPROVED INSPECTION PROGRAM
Council approved an Inspection Program to be carried out across the Shire to ensure that the owners of dogs comply with the registration requirements under the Animal Management Act (Dogs and Cats) Act 2008.
The purpose of the program is also to ensure that owners comply with their duty to provide a proper enclosure to prevent the animal from wandering as per Council’s Local Law (Animal Management) 2011.
Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Tom Gilmore is strongly urging residents to ensure their dogs are registered with Council and comply with regulations. “There are serious fines for dogs that are roaming at large, and if they’re unregistered of course there are even more serious consequences,” Cr Gilmore said.
Council recently conducted an Approved Inspection Program near the Mareeba Golf Club with positive outcomes.
“The program proved to be successful with many residents registering their dogs, and property enclosures were inspected to ensure compliance,” Cr Gilmore said.
“Furthermore, the instances of wallabies being savaged on the Golf Club have now stopped.”
The program will commence 1 September and will run for three months. It will be conducted between the hours of 6.30am and 7.00pm, Monday to Sunday, with the majority of inspections to be carried out during normal working hours. While the program is Shire-wide, the focus will be on the Speewah, Kuranda and Mt Molloy areas.
KURANDA FACELIFT
Therwine Street will be revived under the Kuranda Infrastructure Program. Council this week approved the Redevelopment Project and is inviting expressions of Interest from suitably qualified contractors to take on the exciting development.
Mayor Tom Gilmore said the overdue project will improve the streetscape and correct footpath deficiencies that have manifested over time as the village has evolved as a tourist destination and visitor numbers increased.
The $1 million project will be funded through the Kuranda Infrastructure Program.
“It is envisaged that calling for expressions of interest will attract qualified contractors and allow Council to develop an appropriate scope of works within the allocated budget,” Cr Gilmore said.
SEWER UPGRADE
Council will continue to upgrade the town’s sewer network as part of the sewer reline program undertaken by Council from 2011 to 2013.
Relining Solutions Pty Ltd was awarded the tender for the Mareeba Sewer Relining Project.
Mayor Tom Gilmore said sewerage infrastructure in the township of Mareeba is ageing and has reached the point where the rate of groundwater infiltration is resulting in sewer main surcharging during the wet season.
“This in turn has contributed to excessive loads on sewerage pump stations, environmental releases and high volumes of effluent requiring treatment at the respective wastewater treatment plant,” Cr Gilmore said.
AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON APPOINTED
Council called for expressions of interest for the appointment of the Audit Committee Independent Chairperson and appointed Ruth Faulkner, Conus Business Consultancy Services, as the Independent Chairperson of the Audit Committee.
The benefits to the organisation in having an Audit Committee, relate to providing increased confidence in the organisation’s financial reporting, risk management and corporate governance.
COUNCIL TO TRIAL NEW TECHNOLOGY
Mareeba Shire Council has agreed to take part in an experimental technology trial at the Mareeba Wastewater Plant.
The technology was developed by contractor Downer Utilities Australia in collaboration with Murdoch University. The technology is called ‘parallel nitrification de-nitrification (PND) and if successful, will improve operational outcomes at the newly opened Plant over and above the requirements under the environment licence requirements.
Downer’s proposal to trial the new technology will effectively short-cut the chemical reaction for breaking down ammonia in the raw effluent, therefore requiring less energy and reducing operating costs.
Mayor Tom Gilmore said the new technology claims to provide a better quality treated effluent which in turn results in improved environmental performance at the current plant capacity, and allows for future plant capacity growth over and above its current design capacity for the same discharge license conditions.
The trial involves installation of cages of hanging rope media into the bio selector of the Plant that provide a surface of growth of bacteria – which is used to digest the nitrogen in the wastewater. The Contractor would then modify the flow direction and aeration cycling within the bio reactor which develops optimal conditions to drive the PND process.
If the trial proves to be successful, Council will acquire the technology for permanent inclusion in the Plant.