Preparing the region for the future

December 2015/January 2016

The Round-up

the first in line for the next stage of the rollout. In the long term, it will transform life in all areas of the region.

The USC Gympie campus offering of Engineering as of 2016 is a fantastic opportunity for local students to access high-quality, face-to-face teaching close to home. This approach is a great benefit for school-leavers undertaking their first year of university study locally and being able to stay at home or for mature-age students who want to maintain work commitments in the Gympie region while upgrading their skills.

The ‘Our Towns’ Sustainable Centres program and the Gympie Town Centre strategy both reinforce Council’s commitment to strategic town planning and placemaking as vital measures to ensure that the towns and communities in our region provide for the lifestyle and business needs of future residents.

I am looking forward to 2016 and beyond, and working together to ensure that the Gympie region is placed on solid foundations for a future that is well planned and delivered across the whole spectrum of community needs. Wishing you and your families a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

Mayor Mick Curran

gympie.qld.gov.au

A liveable region

Gympie Town Centre Revitalisation Design

The Gympie Town Centre Urban Design Projects were endorsed by Council earlier this year and a number of priority implementation activities were identified including progressing further concept development for a Transit Facility in the Town Centre, further developing the concept for a Mary Street Pedestrian Plaza connecting

Mary Street, Memorial Park and the transit facility site and detailed designs for the Smithfield Street and Mary Street concepts. Council will soon be commencing community engagement in relation to a number of these projects, so keep an eye on gympie.qld.gov.au/town-centre-revitalisation for opportunities to have your say or to find out more information.

Smithfield Street, Gympie

Several key initiatives delivered by Council and vital for the Gympie region’s future productivity, liveability, social cohesion and community needs are outlined in this version of The Round-up.

It is critical that Council strives to invest in and implement opportunities

that will enable our region to have greater levels of employment, economic prosperity and community wellbeing.

With the nbn’s Fibre To The Node (FTTN) launch in the region and the Federal Mobile Blackspot funding, it’s evident that mobile and telecommunications connectivity is no longer considered an optional extra in regional Australia but is critical for both business and community growth. Access to fast broadband and better mobile coverage can provide a range of benefits for households and businesses with improved opportunities for telecommuting, online education tools and placing our region at the forefront of telecommunications infrastructure. Council has worked with the nbn co. to have the Gympie region recognised as a priority area and it is exciting that the region is one of

17/11/2015 Scale 1:2500

Gympie Council does in this

using such does so basis

Gympie Council shall responsibility liability

A liveable region

A connected region

ARC construction underway

Hutchinson Builders, appointed by Council to build the Aquatic Recreation Centre (ARC) have commenced construction of the facility, sited next to Gympie State High School.

To minimise disruption caused by the road closures of Tozer Park Road and Everson Road, Council has provided

Fibre to the Node technology getting Gympie region connected to the nbn network faster

Several areas in the Gympie region are set to join a limited number of Australian towns currently receiving the nbn’s Fibre To The Node (FTTN) rollout. FTTN technology delivers fast broadband via fibre-optic cable that runs to a neighbourhood node/cabinet and from there using the copper lines to deliver high-speed broadband.

The FTTN rollout will significantly increase the telecommunications infrastructure and allow for high speed broadband for many residents and businesses in the Gympie region with Banks Pocket, East Deep Creek, Glanmire, Gympie, Jones Hill, Monkland, Mothar Mountain, Pie Creek, Southside, Two Mile and Victory Heights all to be connected.

The full list of areas included in the plan, the technologies they

a temporary car park on the land below the Edmond Rice Educational Facility and allocated two disabled parking bays on Everson Road. Council anticipates the roads reopening before school returns in 2016.

ARC will have as its core features a 50 metre outdoor pool, a 25 metre heated indoor pool and a water play area for children. Council aims for the facility to be operational by December

2016. Council received funding support of $5 million from the Federal Government for the ARC project in the last financial year. Residents requiring any further information on the works should contact Council on 1300 307 800.

are scheduled to receive and when construction is due to start is available at nbnco.com.au/3yearplan.

Mobile connectivity to improve in the Gympie region – Mobile Black Spot Program delivers Round 1 funding

Improved mobile reception is on its way for three localities in the Gympie region after the Australian Government announced the list of successful base stations awarded through the first round of the Commonwealth’s Mobile Black Spot Program funding.

The program will upgrade mobile telecommunications infrastructure throughout Australia to improve network coverage for metropolitan, regional and remote areas. Funding was announced to improve infrastructure at Glastonbury, Widgee and Woolooga. The locations were identified following consultation

between Council, the Queensland Government and mobile operators and were supported by strong community feedback to help identify priority locations.

Council was jointly involved with The Digital Economy Group in developing a detailed Expressions of Interest strategy to support the infrastructure upgrades. As part of the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils, Council also works closely with other member councils to lobby the Federal Government for improved and upgraded telecommunications infrastructure throughout the region.The first base stations funded under the program are expected to be rolled out before the end of 2015 with the rollout continuing for three years. A map of locations which will receive new or upgraded coverage under Round 1 funding is available at nationalmap.gov.au.

gympie.qld.gov.au

A liveable region

‘Our Towns’ Sustainable Centres Program

Council remains committed to the ‘Our Towns’ Sustainable Centres Program to improve the sustainability of the region’s rural and coastal communities through a range of measures, including streetscape and public space improvements and most importantly developing an overall direction to guide future development and protect and enhance the existing character and amenity of the townships. Highlights of the program include:

• Recently the Gunalda and Amamoor first round implementation projects received $245,008 and $80,475 funding assistance respectively through the Queensland Government’s 2015-16 Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program (LGGSP).

• Final first round implementation designs will be on display at each town from early 2016, with construction activities likely to commence early to mid 2016.

• Commencing in June 2015 and following public consultation in July and August 2015, a final draft Concept Master Plan for the townships of Tin Can Bay and Cooloola Cove has recently been prepared and placed on display for public viewing and feedback.

The Gympie Civic Centre upgrade

The Gympie Civic Centre is set to undergo a refurbishment in 2016. The refurbishment includes an upgrade to theatrical light and sound within the complex, fresh paint in the theatre and a refurbishment to the foyer, Fossickers Room, Prospectors Hall and the construction of a deck on the eastern side of the centre overlooking the park.

Stage 1 will see a closure of the centre in early 2016. The centre will open on Tuesday 26 January 2016 for the Community Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony and Friday 12 February 2016 for the Blue Light Disco.

Stage 2 will see a closure in the second half of 2016. During this stage, the centre will be open to honour bookings made prior to the 23 November 2015 for use of the Heritage Theatre, including the Blue Light disco on Friday 12 August 2016.

• Recommendations and priorities of the final draft Concept Master Plan for Goomeri focus on improvements including landscape design, pedestrian access and strengthening tourism attributes, particularly relating to the Pumpkin Festival.

• Commencing in September 2015 and complementary to recent public realm planning undertaken as part of Stage 1, ‘Kandanga Revisited’ is in response to five key former State owned sites within the Kandanga Township being recently divested into Council’s ownership. This project aims to develop a land use plan over the five sites representing the community’s preferred land uses.

To stay informed about all the ‘Our Towns’ Sustainable Centres projects, visit gympie.qld.gov.au/our-towns.

You are reminded that the Pavilion is available for use during the closure of the Civic Centre and enquiries can be made by calling the Pavilion directly on 5841 0824.

The Gympie Civic Centre

Sunshine Coast University brings Engineering to Gympie campus

The University of the Sunshine Coast will offer first-year Science and Engineering subjects from its Gympie campus from the start of 2016.

Students will have the opportunity to complete the first year of a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil or Mechanical) in Gympie, before studying the remainder of the degree at USC’s main campus at Sippy Downs.

Students will be able to visit and utilise the science and engineering facilities at the Sippy Downs campus, particularly the cutting-edge 3D visualisation facilities in the Engineering Learning Hub, and have the choice of majoring in one of 16 different areas, including Chemistry, Biotechnology, Animal Ecology and Environmental Science.

gympie.qld.gov.au

A liveable region Holiday Fun this Summer

Council is providing the perfect excuse to get out of the house in the next school holidays with the Holiday Fun Program. The Holiday Fun program provides the Gympie region’s younger residents and visitors with a range of budget friendly, new and fun activities. For all the activities, dates and times, visit holidayfun.com.au. You will need to book for some events, so get in early!

• Kandanga 8 January, 2016• Rainbow Beach 14 January, 2016• Gympie 22 January, 2016

A planned and maintained region Infrastructure projects to be completed by end of 2015

Bayside Road, Tin Can Bay – pavement renewal and overlay works. Pavement strengthening and bitumen resealing of approximately 1.5 kilometres of Bayside Road from Tin Can Bay Road to near Endeavour Drive. The finished roadway will be to a 9 metre wide, two lane sealed standard.

Anderleigh Road, Anderleigh – bitumen sealing. The project will seal a 1.27 kilometre section of gravel road to a 7.0 metre wide, two lane sealed standard.

Cedar Pocket Road, Cedar Pocket – replacement of Tatnell Bridge. Council is replacing Tatnell Bridge on Cedar Pocket Road with a two lane concrete structure. The existing single lane timber bridge is in poor condition. The proposed works will provide long term maintenance savings for Council as well as improved access for heavy vehicles and a safety benefit for local residents.

Exhibition Road, Southside – drainage works. Council has allocated funding to improve stormwater capture by upgrading the drainage adjacent to the intersection of Exhibition Road and Decker Place. The project will install additional stormwater drainage pipes and pits to improve drainage in the area.

George Street, Brooloo – drainage works. Council is improving stormwater capture by upgrading the drainage along a section of George Street. The project will install additional storm water drainage pipes, pits and a controlled discharge.

Infrastructure projects to be commenced in early 2016

Clarkson Rive, Rainbow Beach – kerb and channel replacement. Council will improve the kerb and channel along a section of Clarkson Drive, Rainbow Beach. The project will replace the existing kerb and channel between Rainbow Beach Road and Indigo Avenue.

Esplanade, Tin Can Bay – revetment wall. Council has constructed a 200 metre rock revetment wall to improve the foreshore at Tin Can Bay, between Cod Street and Oyster Parade.

Pinta Court, Cooloola Cove – drainage works. Council has allocated funding to improve stormwater drainage along a section of Pinta Court. The project will install additional stormwater pipes and a concrete invert channel to improve drainage in the area.

Bayside Road, Tin Can Bay

Revetment Wall, Tin Can Bay

Council meetings Upcoming meetings: 27 January and 24 February 2016. Meetings are held in the Town Hall, 2 Caledonian Hill, Gympie. The agenda and minutes are available on Council’s website gympie.qld.gov.au/council-meetings.

Council’s offices and depots will be closed from 3pm Thursday 24 December 2015 and will reopen at 8am Monday 4 January 2016.

To find out more about these articles or Council activities:

gympie.qld.gov.au 1300 307 800

facebook.com/GympieRegionalCouncil

twitter.com/GympieRegion

instagram.com/GYMPIEREGIONALCOUNCIL