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A place where you can find and share events that are happening in the Hinchinbrook community.

Council Connections - 17 November 2021

17th November 2021

Mayor's Christmas Appeal, Storm Clean-up, Community Projects, Dog Park Consultation and Feral Pig Aerial Shoot

Mayor's Christmas Appeal

Dig deep and donate to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal to help those in our community who are less fortunate and to ensure that their Christmas is one that is filled with joy and not despair.

To support this Appeal, residents may deliver gifts, items of nonperishable food or monetary donations to the Hinchinbrook Shire Council Office from 8.30am Wednesday 17 November 2021 to 5.00pm Wednesday 15 December 2021.

Get Ready Hinchinbrook Storm Clean-up

As the disaster season is fast approaching, Council is urging residents to prepare for future weather events by disposing of damaged or unused play equipment, outdoor furniture, barbeques, old sheets of corrugated iron and branches from around your home.

These items can become airborne in a storm or cyclone with potential to cause damage to houses or serious injury to people.

Council reminds residents that each household within Hinchinbrook Shire is entitled to four virtual waste disposal vouchers per financial year, which allows them to dispose of up to four loads of domestic or green waste free of charge.

In addition, all metal items can be disposed of free of charge anytime at the Warrens Hill Landfill Resource and Recovery Centre.

Impacts of Coconut Palms on our Beaches

Coconut Palms on our beaches may reel in tourists and beachgoers as they symbolise the laid-back lifestyle of the tropics.

However, despite their romantic ambience, Coconut Palms are at the centre of acrimonious debate due to their invasive nature, ability to prolifically displace native vegetation, and promote shoreline erosion. Furthermore, they pose a significant liability risk due to the probable outcomes that may occur from falling coconuts.

Coconut Palms are only one of hundreds of thriving plant species that were planted here by 19th century pioneers which later spread along the remote coastline of northern Queensland and are now taking over.

Our Council, like most others in tropical Queensland, undertake ‘de-nutting’ activities twice-yearly to reduce the public safety risk to the community. Contractors are engaged to remove the maturing fruit (nuts) and this alone is a constant maintenance burden and comes with a hefty bill for all ratepayers.

Council will be undertaking a review of the current and emerging Coconut Palm situation as part of its review of Council’s foreshore management. Council’s intention is to remove a significant number of Coconut Palms and replace them with native coastal vegetation that will provide more suitable habitat and help actively build the dunes along our foreshores to reduce potential erosion at our beaches.

A Coconut Palm De-nutting Program commenced on Monday 8 November 2021 with completion anticipated by the end of November, weather permitting.

This work will be undertaken by Taylors Tree Lopping and will begin in Lucinda, with multiple crews progressively working through all beach areas.

Please note that some problematic Coconut Palms have been selected for removal.

For further information regarding the impacts of Coconut Palms or Council’s plan moving forward, please contact Council’s Public Spaces Team on 4776 4740.

Prepare and Protect Your Business Now for the Upcoming Disaster Season

Complete Business Solutions in partnership with the Small Business Recovery Centre, Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, is pleased to present Get Ready Small Business expos, webinars and one-on-one business specialist consultations. Queensland business owners from all industries are invited to take advantage of these free  government-funded live webinars at 12.30pm AEST weekdays (recordings also available).

The Get Ready Small Business campaign is tailored to business owners to help protect and prepare their business against disasters such as extreme weather events, health crises, IT threats and crisis. Topics relevant to business disaster mitigation will be presented each weekday at 12.30pm through to 26 November 2021.

Register now via  events.completebs.com.au/webinars.

Ingham Tennis Association Light Project

Congratulations to the Ingham Tennis Association who have secured $180,000 for their lights upgrade project. Of the $180,000 Council contributed $20,000 (excluding GST) to Ingham Tennis Association.

Ingham Tennis is currently upgrading lights on 12 courts to more energy efficient LED lighting, with the lights being more cost effective and brighter will benefit all.

The project has kicked off with new poles and lights ordered for installation.

Feral Pig Aerial Shoot

Council, in co-operation with the Department of Environment and Science and the Department of Resources, intend to conduct an aerial shoot to control feral pigs.

The areas covered during this program will include “The Orient”, Lamari’s on Suthers Road, “Mungalla”, Accornero’s on Abswold Road and parcels of land that are under the management of participating organisations between and adjacent to Palm Creek to the North and Insulator Creek to the South.

This program will take place from Thursday 2 December 2021 to Wednesday 8 December 2021 between the hours of 5.00am and 7.00pm each day, weather permitting. To ensure the safety of the public while this program is being conducted, access to the National Parks Estate, Bronte Road and the Halifax Bay Wetlands will be closed during these times.

Access to huts on Bronte Road will be permitted outside of the planned control times.

Should you require any further information or clarification concerning this matter, please contact Council’s Biosecurity Team Leader on 4776 4740 for the necessary assistance.

Have your Say Off-leash Dog Park

Council is seeking community feedback on the potential establishment of an off-leash dog park in Ingham.

Off-leash dog park facilities are commonly found along travel routes across Australia.

The current site being considered is located along the Bruce Highway, in the grass median strip between the northbound and southbound lanes, north of the railway tracks in Herbert Street Ingham.

The first stage of the project will only include fencing, double self-closing gates and a drinking bowl facility. Other additions may be included in future financial years, subject to funding availability.

This site has several advantages including:

  • Many people travel with dogs for holidays and this location would encourage travellers to stop in the region and shop locally;
  • Being on a traffic route, the site is already subjected to traffic noise and is away from residential premises;
  • Other facilities, such as waste and recycling bins are already situated in the parkland, with fast food outlets and toilets nearby in Rotary Park; and
  • The potential site is accessible to travellers and there is sufficient parking adjacent to the grass median strip.

This is a project that will be considered during the 2022-2023 financial year budget preparations. Council will engage local contractors in the construction process, with costs being approximately $30,000 to complete.

To have your say on the potential off-leash dog park, community members can complete the survey by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/8XFGCLX.

Feedback closes midnight Sunday 5 December 2021.

Borello Park Community Mural

Recently, Lucinda Progress Association received $8,367 (Excl  GST) through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) to design and create a community mural.

The mural has now been  completed and was overseen by Art by Lavinia.  Borello Park Community Mural celebrates the fertile waters of the Hinchinbrook Channel and Coral Sea off the coast of Lucinda.

With Lucinda being a popular fishing location for anglers, the mural highlights the ever popular fighting Barramundi, juicy mud crabs, Mangrove Jack, Spanish Mackerel, a sea turtle, a dugong, pelicans and a crocodile.

RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Noorla Bowls Club Invitational 4's Event

On Saturday 13 November 2021 the Noorla Bowls Club held their Annual  Invitational 4's event. Council proudly supported the Noorla Bowls Club by providing $600 (Excl GST) through the Community Activity Grants Program.

The Invitational 4's event consisted of 16 teams, made up of 64 players which brought competitors and guests to the Hinchinbrook Shire from between Mackay, Charters Towers and Cairns.

The event raised funds for the club whilst supporting the local community by showcasing the district to competitors.

Need to print the Council Connections page? Click on the link below for the printable version. 

COUNCIL CONNECTIONS - 17 NOVEMBER 2021

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