Fire station opens to public for day

THE Mareeba Fire Station is opening its doors for the community to come along and learn all about what it takes to be a firefighter in Mareeba with a special open day being held this Saturday.

The day will give people an opportunity to explore the station, meet the crew that keeps them safe during the fire season, see some of the equipment they use and kids will even have the chance to get on the hoses themselves.

There will also be a chance to learn about new smoke alarm legislation, home fire safety information and to learn about what it takes to become a firefighter and job opportunities throughout the service.

Mareeba Fire Station auxiliary captain Cody Bowyer said the open day was a great chance for people to come and meet the firefighters who put their lives on the line whenever there is a fire.

“We want to show everyone throughout our station, give them a bit of an understanding of how things work and show them the tools and assets that are there to protect them and our community,” he said.

“There are some things at the Mareeba station that aren’t at other station and there are also some things that are housed here that are for a regional response.”

There is a technical decontamination trailer at the station which enables the crew to de- contaminate anyone who has been exposed to dangerous chemicals during a spill and there is also a heavy rescue trailer which is used for large vehicle incidents such as trucks.

Mr Bowyer said information would also be available on the new fire danger safety rating which has been introduced across Australia.

“That has been standardised throughout the country,” he said.

“The rating wasn’t indicating the chances of fire but the consequences of the fire.

“If it indicated catastrophic there wasn’t a catastrophic chance that a fire is going to happen 100 per cent immediately every second of every day, it was indicating the severity of the fire if one did break out.”

“Work recommenced in late May 2022 after continued wet weather at the end of 2021. The project has now progressed with the second coat seal completed last month.”

But heavy rain in February had caused substantial scouring of the shoulders and several culverts along Euluma Creek Road.

“These will be repaired with funding through the Federal and State government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements,” Mayor Toppin said.

“I look forward to the completion of this project after linemarking is finished later this month.”

Another project, to widen and seal Borzi Road, Mutchilba from 6m in width to 8m, was completed in February.

“This road provides vital access to agricultural properties and a quarry, and the improvements have been well received by our residents,” Mayor Toppin said.

The new Splash Park continues to be progressed but won’t be completed until June.

Construction of the park been impacted by persistent wet weather in January and February, however some progress has been made on underground pipework installation and preparation of the Splash Park foundation.

The pavers between the old club house, 50m pool and the new Splash Park have been replaced with concrete.

Other capital works underway include repairs on culverts in McGrath Road, Donlen and Mason streets, the finalisation of the design for an upgrade to the Anzac Memorial area in Byrnes Street, which will then be subject of public consultation as will a design for a “refresh” at Bill Newburn Park at Irvinebank.

Officers also completed an investigation into whether a new sewerage pump station in Atherton Street could be refurbished or would require new infrastructure. The review showed the pump station could be refurbished, with the final design now being worked on.

New toilets for Mareeba’s CBD are also on their way, with a request for quotes now closed and being assessed by officers.