COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Through the Community Partnerships Program, Mareeba Shire Council aims to support local sporting and community organisation by offering financial assistance.
Council this week approved an interest-free community loan of $35,750 for the Mareeba United Football Club (MUFC) to improve its facilities. The total amount includes $8,750 as the existing balance on the Club’s current loan and an additional $27,000 for new projects.
Alex Srhoj from the MUFC said the club requires the funds to proceed with the installation of lights and the purchase of a new mower.
Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Tom Gilmore said that the Community Partnerships Program aims to strengthen community capacity and develop strategies to encourage and support leadership and self-responsibility in the community.
CAPPING OF LANDFILL
Mareeba Shire Council will spend over $4 million dollars to cap the old Mareeba landfill.
To comply with environmental permit conditions for operating the Mareeba landfill, Council is required to prepare a rehabilitation and after-care plan which includes installation of a final capping system of the old Mareeba landfill.
Mayor Tom Gilmore said the capping of the landfill is an environmental necessity. “The purpose of the capping system is to minimise infiltration of water into the landfill unit, prevent erosion and manage the release of landfill gas,” he said.
“The old Mareeba landfill is an unlined, legacy waste disposal site that accepted waste until 2006 when the current landfill was constructed to accommodate the growing region’s waste.”
The final capping of the old Mareeba landfill includes final shaping of the landfill mound, clay subgrade, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE geomembrane), gas and leachate collection systems, grass cover and associated road and drainage works. The project will be completed by Celtic Construction and Utility Services.
FLYING START
The redevelopment of Mareeba Airport is off to a flying start after three tenders for initial site works were awarded at the Council meeting this week. Preliminary works will include road upgrades and maintenance to improve access to the airport and upgrades to the site’s water supply to meet regulation.
Initial works will include the widening and resurfacing of Vicary Road for two-way traffic, installation of road drainage and construction of asphalt-surfaced building accesses and additional car parking areas. This upgrade will be completed by Northern Civil Earthworks at a cost of $176,622.05.
Vicary Road and Ray Roads will also be upgraded at a cost of $986,727.50 by LDI Constructions (QLD) Pty Ltd.
Mayor Tom Gilmore said that “to cater for existing traffic and proposed development at the upgraded airport, it is necessary to upgrade these roads to a sealed formation width of 8.4 metres.”
These works will involve widening and resurfacing of Vicary Road and the section of Ray Road between Vicary Road and JRM Braes Road including associated drainage works.
In addition a new potable water booster pump station will be installed and the existing airport water supply pipelines will become the new potable water network. The water supply upgrade will be carried out by FGF Developments Pty Ltd at a cost of $746,251.88.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government (National Stronger Regions Fund) and the Queensland Government (Royalties for Regions).
CIVIL WORKS
Mareeba Shire Council continued to carry out routine maintenance of parks and gardens, as well as infrastructure works over the past month.
The existing causeway at McIver Road was replaced, raised and widened to 9.6m. In addition to the causeway upgrade the road between Tilse Street and the causeway was also widened and sealed to a width of 9.2m. Drainage, kerb and channel works were completed as part of the upgrade which concluded last month.
The upgrade of Cobra Road was also completed last month improving safety for motorists and primary producers. A section of the road was widened and sealed to 6.5m with a 0.75m gravel shoulder.
Council completed works at the Mareeba Swimming Pool car park last month which included the construction of additional parking spaces for users of the Mareeba Swimming Pool and Mareeba Gymnasium. The project included pavement and asphalt surfacing works, the installation of kerbing and channelling, provision of pedestrian accesses, stormwater network upgrading and pavement marking.
The Walsh River Bridge at Springmount Road is now open to all traffic. Council replaced the old timber bridge with a single lane concrete bridge with a capable carrying capacity of 44t. This project was funded through the Roads to Regions and Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme.