EXPRESS The
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Locally owned and proudly independent
New Rotary Field Days chair appointed
IDA Portella (centre) was appointed as the new chair of 2015 Rotary FNQ Field Days on Wednesday, January 14. Her appointment signals a new beginning for the event and the first time that all three head Rotary leadership positions are held by women in a Field Days year. Ida joins Atherton Rotary President Pauline Spackman and Mareeba Rotary President Natasha Srhoj (pictured right) at the helm. Only 30 percent of sites are left ahead of the May event, which is looking to be the biggest and best yet. Turn to page 3 for more on the 2015 Rotary FNQ Field Days.
Airport upgrade By Justin Fris
MAREEBA’s airport is set to receive a much needed facelift, after the Member for Cook David Kempton announced $13 million would be spent on upgrades to the facility. As the project is funded through the ‘Royalties for Regions’ program, the amount in question is secured funding; but will only proceed if Mr Kempton is re-elected to the seat of Cook. Also in attendance at last Friday’s announcement was Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Tom
Gilmore, who said the project would be great for local employment in the town. “This project will mean more industry jobs and sufficient upgrades will bring the aerodrome up to its potential,” he said. “It will allow us to continue to build a future in aviation, which will lift the skill set for our community, increase employment opportunities and provide a unique opportunity to draw people into our community. “This is an opportunity for our community to grasp opportunities that have been spoken about
for many years and will allow us to grow, what is becoming a considerable and unique aviation based estate.” The big announcements did not end there, with stakeholders and The Express immediately heading to the other side of town. At Mareeba’s sewage treatment plant, Mr Kempton announced a further $1 million in ‘Royalties for Regions’ funding would be allocated toward stage one upgrades of the Mareeba Wastewater Treatment Plant. These upgrades will include completing 1.1km
of a duplicate rising main, which is designed to prevent overloading of the current facilities. Mr Kempton said the ‘Royalties for Regions’ funding had improved liveability for people within the Cook electorate. “These funding announcements bring the total investment from the program in the Cook electorate to $30 million – which is improving the liveability of remote and rural communities, by investing in community infrastructure,” he said. The Express will keep you up to date with major election issues as they come to hand.
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