Council Connections - 3 March 2021

Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre

Council has temporarily taken over management of the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre and has employed additional staff whilst this is occurring.

The Council will soon consider possible future business models and anticipates advertising for new management in the near future.

Local Contracts Awarded

Ingham Kelly Theatre

The renovations and upgrade to the Ingham Kelly Theatre amenities contract of $145,800 has been granted to local firm Blanco Carpentry. The project is expected to commence in three weeks and be completed within a period of seven weeks.

Seating and Information Shelters

A Forrest Beach based builder has been awarded a key Council contract for the construction of seating and information shelters as part of Council’s Works for Queensland major foreshore redevelopment projects.

Local builder DJ Duffy had successfully secured the $257,949 contract, a huge coup for a small town business.

The contract involves building two shelters, one at Vince Corbett Park, Forrest Beach and the other at Borello Park, Lucinda.

The new shelters have been designed from the Hinchinbrook Way Master Plan as part of a staged approach to the upgrade of the foreshore areas and key tourist destinations.

DJ Duffy has also recently been appointed as builder for a smaller shelter planned for construction in Halifax as part of the State Government’s Works for Queensland funding program.

Selective Inspection Program Forrest Beach

Council recently approved a Selective Inspection Program at Forrest Beach. Council Officers are provided with additional powers of entry to allow them as Authorised Persons to enter and inspect premises.

This will assist inspectors in determining a shed’s compliance with the Building Act 1975, Building Code of Australia and Planning Act 2016. The purpose of the Selective Inspection Program is to determine compliance with relevant Acts for the habitation of Class 10a structures on land within the Forrest Beach locality.

The inspections are expected to commence 15 March 2021 and continue for approximately three months.

Flying Fox Management

Council wishes to remind residents that morning relocation activities, including the use of bird fright, will remain ongoing between 5.00am and 7.30am each morning to dissuade any animals from attempting to roost in undesirable urban locations.

Flying foxes generally land at or just before dawn as they return from their foraging activities overnight, to seek
suitable roosting sites to rest during the day.

The timeslot for the dispersal activities is critical, as once the flying foxes settle, they are quite difficult to move on. It is recommended that all pets are secured during the operation times. Private landowners are reminded that if flying foxes land in your trees, you are allowed to dissuade them from staying by use of nondestructive disturbance techniques including smoke, water sprinklers, visual deterrents such as imitation predators, bright lights and noise from various commercial or improvised products.

Please do not attempt to touch a bat with bare hands. For further information on what you can and cannot do with flying foxes, please visit the Department of Environment and Science website at www.des.qld.gov.au.

Should you wish to report flying foxes that have taken up temporary residence in an undesirable urban location, or you require further clarification regarding the dispersal activities, please contact Council on 4776 4740.

Adventure Playground

The Adventure Playground is scheduled to commence installation on Friday 26 March 2021 at the TYTO Parklands, weather permitting.

Successful Grant Writing Workshop

Through the Hinchinbrook Way Ambassador program, Council supported the National Drought and North  Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency in providing a Grant Writing Workshop for the community, held Thursday 25 February 2021 at the TYTO Conference Centre.

This successful workshop helped people understand what is needed in a grant application, how to increase the chance of success, and understanding which grants are suitable for eligibility. This was a great opportunity for the community.

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COUNCIL CONNECTIONS -  3 March 2021