Your Noosa

CONSTRUCTION KICKS OFF

Work to replace the existing Cooroy Belli Creek Road Bridge in Cooroy started this month and is expected to be completed by mid-October, weather and construction conditions permitting. The current two lane timber bridge will be demolished, and a two lane concrete bridge will be built in the same location. The new bridge will have a design life of 100 years and will require less maintenance than the existing bridge, which has been identified as needing replacement due to its age and condition. “Unfortunately, given the nature of the work, residents, and motorists will be impacted during construction,” Infrastructure Services Director Larry Sengstock said. The existing bridge will be closed for the duration of construction and traffic detoured via Lawnville Road. “To reduce the construction period and impact on the community, prefabricated elements will be used where possible,” Mr Sengstock said. Variable Message Signs have been installed at numerous locations to provide advance warning about changed traffic conditions and alternate route. The new bridge is jointly funded by the Australian Government and Council as part of the Bridge Renewal Program.

Cooroy Belli Creek Road Bridge

MAINTENANCE GRADING ON LOCAL GRAVEL ROADS

Improving our local road network for all users

Our maintenance grading program continues throughout July as we work our way across gravel roads in our Shire. Roads will be inspected prior to the start of work and maintenance carried out in sections based on required grading treatment. According to Bryan O’Connor, Civil Operations Manager, grading is conducted to repair potholes, corrugations and to improve drainage, improving our road networks for all users. “Roads being graded in as part of this month’s program include roads in Black Mountain, Federal, Cooran and Pinbarren,” said Mr O’Connor. “You can find a list of all roads being graded month by month by visiting Council’s ‘work in progress’ webpage which lists capital improvement and annual maintenance programs suburb by suburb as well as shire wide programs. It’s a great way to keep up to date with what’s happening in your area.” This grading work will be conducted Monday to Friday between 6:30am and 3:30pm as long as we have favourable weather and operational conditions. Traffic control will be in place to ensure the safety of motorists and we ask that drivers obey the instructions of traffic control staff when travelling through active work sites.

HINTERLAND HOSTS FIRETECH TRIALS

Noosa hinterland will set the scene for the trial phase of Council’s Firetech Program. Drones, fuel moisture sensors, robots and AI cameras are just some of the technologies set to be tested in a “living lab” of local bushland to predict, detect, track and fight fires. Peregian Digital Hub Director, Chris Boden, says the aim is to develop a suite of technologies fire authorities can confidently deploy to boost bushfire resilience. “We’re trialling sensors that capture real-time information on environmental factors such as soil and fuel moisture and weather conditions to predict the likelihood of fire occurring,” Mr Boden said. “We’ll test cameras with artificial intelligence to detect bushfire smoke – across large areas of our hinterland – and distinguish it from BBQ smoke or smog.” The program – created by Council’s Digital Hub - will explore drone use to improve situational awareness during a fire, as well as the use of uncrewed firefighting solutions to keep firefighters out of harm’s way. “Through this work, our aim is to trial these solutions in Noosa to prove their efficacy so that they can be adopted not only here but also in other bushfire prone communities.” Firetech has brought together tech companies, Council and QFES. “As the climate changes we can expect more severe bushfire seasons and innovations such as this partnership ensure we can keep on the front foot,” QFES Deputy Commissioner Mike Wassing said. Firetech began following the 2019 bushfires. “In the days and weeks that followed the Peregian fires it struck us that while we are making the most of advancing technologies in many areas, bushfire resilience was lagging,” Mr Boden said. “We started to look at the contribution we could make using the resources of the Digital Hub to help boost our bushfire resilience – something that’s close to all of our hearts in Peregian.” “We’re thrilled to have the support of QFES, the Queensland Government, Council and a panel of leading tech companies to begin this exciting next phase of Firetech,” Mr Boden said.

(L-R) QFES Deputy Commissioner Mike Wassing, Deputy Mayor Cr Frank Wilkie, Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan MP and Firetech Program Director Leigh Kelson.

UPGRADE A TREAT FOR HORSES AND RIDERS

Renewal work on the Cooran Horse Yards improves trail hub facilities

Work on the Cooran Horse Yards is finished. The existing yard structures have been replaced with more durable treated hardwood posts and galvanised cattle rail. A section of the external fence, badly damaged during the major weather events earlier this year, has been renewed including new front and back gates plus restoration of all flood damaged sections. According to Infrastructure Services Project Manager, Aiden Flannery the facility now boasts two large holding yards plus seven individually gated stalls, providing increased capacity to hold horses whilst riders visit the Cooran town centre or simply stop and rest during a ride. “The project also includes replacement of the existing shelter, which is deteriorating and no longer fit for purpose for our horse-riding community. Construction of the shelter is expected to commence shortly,” he said. “This renewal will improve trail hub facilities for horse riders and provide a secure yard to temporarily hold horses before and after riding the popular Trail 5. The Cooran Horse Yard renewal is part of the Trail 5 Upgrade Project which links Pomona to Cooran via the Tuchekoi National Park.” The project is funded through the jointly funded Commonwealth- State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Cooran Horse Yards

IN BRIEF

Housing feedback wanted

We need your help in tackling the affordable housing issue. Council’s Draft Housing Strategy identifies potential solutions and is now out for community feedback until Sunday 7 August. Director of Environment and Sustainable Development Kim Rawlings said we need to ensure housing is diverse, accessible and meets the changing needs of the community. “We have received over 350 responses so far,” she said. The draft strategy considers diverse housing options, planning scheme amendments and partnerships with community housing providers. “All ideas and suggestions are welcome,” Ms Rawlings said. To provide feedback or take the survey, visit yoursay. noosa.qld.gov.au

Wahpunga Lane Bridge

Following delays caused by two significant flooding events in late February and May, piling activities, to protect the road and bridge from long-term erosion and support the bridge foundation have now restarted. Precast concrete components such as concrete deck units, kerbs and headstocks have been constructed offsite and are ready to be delivered onsite in coming weeks. The revised construction schedule has the bridge being completed and the road reopened to traffic by mid- August. Detours remain in place until then. The new bridge is jointly funded by the Australian Government and Council as part of the Bridge Renewal Program.