General News
8 September, 2026
Projects keep council crews busy
WORKS to improve stormwater drainage in Walsh Street, new sewerage infrastructure, a massive upgrade to a causeway, a new footpath along Constance Street and the completion of a new viewing platform at Bicentennial Lakes have been keeping Mareeba Shire Council busy in the past few months.
An update on capital works at council’s latest meeting showed the enormous amount of work being undertaken as part of its 2026-27 program, with additional funds coming from the State and Federal governments for several projects.
Traffic around Walsh and Rankin Streets has been disrupted over the past few weeks as the council digs large trenches to lay new 750mm stormwater pipes to increase the capacity of the network to deal with stormwater from Herberton Street.
The new system will allow stormwater from that area to be conveyed to Hastie Street where additional pits will capture surface water from the kerbs and divert it into an underground network.
Following these works, the Walsh/Rankin street roundabout will be demolished and reconfigured to improve heavy vehicle use. Other works in Walsh Street will include the installation of a pedestrian refuge to minimise vehicle stopping times at the crossing between K-Hub and the Coles shopping centre, improved street lighting and some landscaping.
One of the major projects being undertaken by the council is a new two-lane causeway crossing at Ada Creek on Tinaroo Creek Road.
The former causeway was only a single lane structure which was impassable during heavy rain events which caused flooding.
The upgrade, which has involved the laying of a massive concrete slab and huge culverts to raise the roadway, will address current visibility issues as the causeway is located below the crest of a hill on the northern side.
It will also reduce the frequency of closures during the wet season, supporting a number of businesses located in the area including a quarry, poultry farm and other agricultural operations.
Another major project that is progressing is the Kenneally Road gravity sewer main upgrade which will improve services to 129 properties in the area and will cater for future development.
Replacing the ageing infrastructure will also reduce the risk of sewerage overflows from manholes in Constance Street and Kenneally Road as well as it entering the Barron River.
Other capital projects that were completed recently include a new viewing deck on the edge of the northern part of Bicentennial Lakes, with interpretive signage to soon be installed, and the construction of a new concrete footpath along the western side of Constance Street between the Mareeba Theatre Group and the bus zone in front of the St Thomas of Villanova Parish School.
