By Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart
As we march towards Christmas, it is all systems go at Council.
Council has awarded a construction tender for the replacement of the Tablelands Road Bridge B in Cooran and Wahpunga Lane Bridge in Kin Kin to SGQ Pty Ltd. We will be spending more than $4m on vital hinterland infrastructure this financial year. Each of the single lane timber bridges will be replaced with wider single-lane concrete bridges which will improve access and safety. With a design life of 100 years, they will also require less maintenance.
Speaking of Kin Kin, Council will be in court on 12 November 2021 for an initial hearing in the case against the Kin Kin Quarry operator Cordwell Resources. We will be seeking interim enforcement orders to have all quarry truck movements cease during school bus hours. Cordwell Resources will have the opportunity to respond to the proceedings by filing and serving affidavit material. Both our legal representatives and Cordwell Resources legal representatives will appear in court and will prepare outlines of argument in advance.
Further proceedings will focus on a number of alleged breaches by the quarry operator and seek to address the intensification of use issues, which is at the centre of community concern. We again want to thank our community members for their unwavering commitment over several months to gather the necessary evidence with around 30 residents providing statements which will form a critical part of the legal case. We couldn’t have done it without them.
As we are well and truly into spring Council’s environment team is asking locals to watch out for wildlife on the move. Koalas, kangaroos and reptiles such as snakes and lizards are all active at this time of year so there is a greater chance of coming across them on local roads, so please take a little extra care when driving.
As we move south down the coast, it’s hard to believe that the Peregian Beach Community House construction is nearing completion. Once completed it will provide Peregian with a large, more fit-for-purpose community house building and it will enable the Digital Hub to expand into the old community house building. The Digital Hub has been successful and has filled the capacity of the existing building so the future expansion will provide an opportunity to create a special space that meets the niche of needs in exciting areas such as Firetch. We have also upgraded the solar system to a 30KW which will provide substantial savings once the building is operational. Stage three of the Rufous Street Precinct project, worth $5.2 million, is being jointly funded by the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and the Queensland Government’s Maturing the Infrastructure Pipeline Project.
Finally, it’s ‘Get Ready Week’ from 10-17 October 2021. This week is a great time to make sure you’re prepared for storm and bushfire season. Take the time to check your insurance and clean up around your yard. Develop your household emergency plan and prepare an emergency kit if you don’t already have one.
To stay informed during disasters, check Council’s Disaster Dashboard and subscribe to the Noosa Alert system. To find out more and access support resources please go to getready.qld.gov.au
Until next month, stay safe, Clare.
