Community & Business
5 March, 2025
Progress on capital works
NEW lighting and an electrical system upgrade at the Dimbulah Memorial Park, Mareeba CBD streetscape improvements, an on again off again roundabout gets an all clear, and over-enthusiastic children are catered for, as capital works continued throughout January.
Despite a moderately wet month, the capital works report tabled at the last Mareeba Shire Council meeting provided an update on current works, highlighting the completion of the Dimbulah Park.
The works were triggered following community requests to be able to use the park for evening events. They complemented the recently completed upgrades to the Dimbulah Memorial Park Hall, which had a new roof, air conditioning and solar panels installed.
Works for the roundabout at the Constance Street-Herberton Street intersection also recommenced last month after approval from Ergon to start laying electrical conduit at the site.
While wet weather has been hampering progress, footpath extensions, renewals and kerb ramps are being installed in the coming weeks as the conduit work continues.
Mareeba’s CBD was also looking revitalised as the works for the Byrnes Street median safety upgrades project progressed through the month.
Seven of the eight locations are now complete with new kerbs, trees and shrubs, irrigation and mulching.
“The project has improved safety for road users by increasing visibility and also created a safer working environment for council’s Garden and Parks team,” Mayor Angela Toppin said.
The final stage of the project, funded by the Federal Government, is the median strip near the Mareeba-Cairns Connection Road.
Meanwhile, council is working to remediate 292 sewer manholes as part of the three-year Barron River Catchment Sewer Infrastructure Upgrade project.
Council received $300,000 funding from the Australian Government Reef Guardian Councils Program and $485,000 from the Queensland Government Works for Queensland 2024- 2027.
The project aims to increase capacity and strengthen the sewer network in Mareeba and Kuranda by remediating sewer manholes in the Barron River catchment and reducing the risk of sewage overflows within the catchment, and ultimately the Great Barrier Reef.
The current program has focused on the sewerage reticulation network within the Kenneally Road Estate areas, to reduce inflow and infiltration.
To date, approximately 50% of the sewer manholes have been completed. Due to recent rain events, the works program is scheduled to recommence this month.
At the Bicentennial Lakes Park project, council heard that all footbridges were complete, and that new railings and a concrete path would be installed near the playground.
A council officer explained that when the playground was initially built, a climbing net was included at the base of the slides, for children to climb back up the slope.
“But actually, what the kids wanted to do was not bother with the climbing nets, and race back up the hill as fast as possible to go back down the slides,” the officer said.
“In doing that, they unintentionally ripped out the garden beds.”
The railings were being erected to protect what was now trampled dirt, and council would provide a direct path for them to go back up. Once everything was in place, the gardens would be restored.
