As we steam through the year, suffice to say, a large focus of Council is the delivery of capital works projects, grass roots spending at its best.
Even though our flood events in February and again in May have impacted four major projects along with 130 Council assets and Council, like all other businesses, has felt the pressures of reduced availability of labour, equipment and a ‘hot’ construction industry, we continue to deliver.
Our road reseal programme, budgeted at $5.3 million but reaching only $5 million is now complete and roads resurfaced include those in Tewantin, Cooran, Tinbeerwah, Cooroibah, Noosaville, Kin Kin, Noosa Heads, Pinbarren and Pomona. Along with our reseal programme we have a whopping 25 multi-year projects in various stages of completion which include, but are not limited to, Wahpunga Lane Bridge renewal, Cooroy Belli Creek Road Bridge renewal, Noosa Parade Corridor upgrade, Tewantin Bypass Stage 1, Noosa Hinterland Trail 5 Upgrade, Project Avenue Stormwater upgrade, Sunshine Beach Noosa Aquatic Centre 25 metre pool shade structure and Memorial Avenue and Doonella Street Roundabout Upgrade.
Our maintenance grading program is also rolling out across the shire.
In August our grading team will be out and about on gravel roads in Black Mountain, Federal, Cooran and Pinbarren with maintenance being carried out on sections requiring grading treatment to repair potholes, corrugations and to improve drainage.
The works advance our road network for all users and we are grateful for your patience while these important works are being carried out.
A big feature of our capital works programme has been the Tewantin Bypass, and although completion is expected to be in October 2022, we are looking to do the tie-in of the roads over the next month. As this occurs, the traffic will then be able to use the roundabout and the workers will move to the surrounding areas to finish them off.
We have also ensured that we have funding in this year’s Council budget to reseal Beckmans Road at our expense and, following this, we will be working with Transport and Main Roads (state government) to obtain funding to do the next stage of the bypass – the roundabout at the Eumundi Noosa Road end.
This month too, sees the launch of Council’s new library kiosks. The first of two library book-vending kiosks opens this week with the Peregian Beach BookShelf kiosk having more than 200 items available for borrowing. A second library BookShelf kiosk will be set up and running at Pomona in the next few months.
With the installation of the library kiosks, we aim to provide easier and improved access to library items for our community. The Peregian Kiosk is at Peregian Beach Community House, 5-7 Rufous Street, Peregian Beach in the new building behind the Peregian Digital Hub.
Speaking of the Digital Hub, Carfax Commercial Constructions will carry out the $2 million building expansion of Peregian Digital Hub. The project includes an expansion into the existing community centre building at Peregian Beach which will also provide a base for our world leading Firetech program as it begins it series of bushfire resilience technologies.
As we move from capital to community, I would like to thank so many of our residents who provided feedback on our draft housing strategy. We’ve received hundreds of responses as part of our consultation.
This draft strategy is aimed at creating more social and affordable housing to address Noosa’s worsening crisis. Solving the issue requires investment from all levels of government, but Council can take steps to develop local solutions and the final strategy will give Council a clear plan to help ‘keep Noosa home’ for residents who already live here while protecting the things we all love such as the character, look and feel of our towns and villages and our design principles.
Finally, don’t forget there is still time to nominate a Noosa business in this year’s Sunshine Coast Business Awards. Council is pleased to sponsor the awards programme this year and it is a great opportunity to celebrate Noosa’s local businesses. Applications close on 29 August 2022 so please visit the website sunshinecoastbusinessawards.com.au and have your say.
Until next month, stay safe, Clare.
