Welcome to this week’s Mayor’s Update. Each week, we look to keep you informed about the latest Council developments, events, and initiatives. Your engagement with and feedback to Council are valuable; please see the details at the end of this notice if you would like to get in touch with myself or another divisional Councillor.
Harkness Creek Footbridge Update
Council remains in discussion with the Department of Transport and Main Roads regarding Harkness Creek Footbridge and is exploring options that offer an accessible and safe outcome for residents, ratepayers, and other stakeholders as soon as possible.
Community safety is a top priority for Council, and this is why the current bridge remains closed. Council understands the community views in relation to the bridge and is exploring a number of options with the Department to address the matter.
Bon Accord Bridge Update
Four spans of the Bon Accord Bridge have now been completed, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress. The construction team is now mobilising to the Gayndah site to complete the remaining six spans. Key stakeholders attended a site visit at the structure, where the construction team presented the work undertaken to date and explained the installation process.
Stage 2 of the approach work has seen a minor redesign to improve visibility and flood resilience, which has slightly delayed procurement. This work will include concrete batter protection, signage and line-marking, clearing, and the installation of bridge approach slabs. The project aims to enhance the approaches and improve resilience during flooding events.
Please see Council’s website to review full Bon Accord Bridge Update. Council appreciates the inconvenience caused by the bridge closure and is working closely with the project team to deliver the refurbished bridge. This project is partly funded through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Councils Budget Breakdown
Council recently adopted its 2024-2025 budget, and over the coming weeks, we will be looking to provide more information on what the budget details mean for the community. This week, we will focus on kerbside collection charges and water and wastewater charges. These charges are levied separately on rate notices to fund the delivery of these services.
Kerbside Waste Collection
Properties within the kerbside collection service area are able to have a weekly collection of a 240L waste bin. Most urban residential properties form part of this service area and already receive this service. In fact, over 4,400 kerbside waste bins are emptied across the region weekly, and around 2,500 tonnes of waste is transported to Council’s regional landfill through this collection service annually.
The cost of delivering this service can vary from property to property. Council changes different kerbside collection fees for different situations, such as commercial or residential. In 2024-2025, most residential ratepayers will pay $351 for the year through their rates notices to fund the services they receive. While this usually covers the cost of collecting the waste, it does not cover the full cost of delivering waste services in the region. This is why dump fees apply when visiting a waste transfer station or landfill.
For more information on waste management in the North Burnett, please see Council’s website https://northburnett.qld.gov.au/waste-management.
Water and Wastewater
Council maintains eight water treatment plants and seven wastewater treatment plants across the region, which service most of the urban land in the region. Council treats around 990 megaliters of drinking water per year and delivers this via approximately 135 km of potable water mains. Once used, the water is often transported back to one of Council’s wastewater treatment plants via approximately 97 km of sewer main for treatment and disposal.
Council’s water and wastewater service is a 24/7 service with an extensive network of infrastructure to maintain. Except for planned and unplanned maintenance periods, residents are usually able to turn on a tap and receive safe drinking water at any time or expect that their sewerage will flow away at all hours of the day and night.
To enable this significant and essential service to continue to be provided and meet the needs of our community, Council make and levy the water supply utility charges as part of the budget adoption process. At the recent budget meeting, Council endorsed a 5% increase for water access charges and a 14% increase for water consumption charges.
Council acknowledges the importance of the user pays principle in respect of water consumption charges, with the adopted charges providing an incentive for residents to adopt responsible water usage practices.
For further information on kerbside waste collection charges or water and wastewater charges, residents can view Council’s budget documents via Council’s website, https://northburnett.qld.gov.au/budget/.
Don’t Forget! Register for Free Grant Writing Workshops
Join grant writer Olivia Everitt for a three-hour Grant Writing for the Arts workshop (beginner-intermediate level). This workshop explores the nuts and bolts of writing successful grant applications.
Workshops are suitable for individual artists (of any discipline), arts organisations or collectives, heritage groups, festival organisers, event managers and arts workers seeking funding for their creative practice, organisation or project. Head to Council’s website for more information and to register your place.
Upcoming workshops:
- Eidsvold Community Hall – Wednesday 31 July 10am – 1pm
- Mt Perry Community Hall – Friday 9 August 10am – 1pm
- Gayndah Town Hall – Wednesday 14 August 10am – 1pm
- Mundubbera Community Hall – Monday 2 September 10am – 1pm
Civil Works Schedule
Below the Maintenance Schedule for week commencing 29 July – weather permitting.
Maintenance Grading –
- Zone 1: Coominglah Road
- Zone 2: Glencoe-Dareen Road
- Zone 3: Cooks Road
- Zone 4: McLeods Road
- Zone 7: Boondooma Road to Pile Gully Road – Drainage Work
- Zone 8: Deems Road
Construction Crew
- North: Mountain View Road – Maintenance Grading
- South: Gayndah Mt Perry Road – Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme Project
Councillor Contacts
As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly on 0458 696 272, or cr.les.hotz@northburnett.qld.gov.au or your Divisional Councillor, if you would like to address any concerns. Our contact details can be found on Council’s website: https://northburnett.qld.gov.au/meet-your-councillors.