Minute With The Mayor Ramon Jayo 3 February

STRONG PROGRESS ON CAPITAL WORKS AND DISASTER RECOVERY ACROSS THE REGION

Iam pleased to advise that, despite the signifcant disruptions to business-as-usual caused by weather events over the past two years, Hinchinbrook Shire Council has remained on track with the delivery of its adopted Capital Works Programmes. Tese programmes are designed to ensure that infrastructure, facilities, and community assets are either improved or maintained in the best possible condition to support the longterm sustainability and beneft of our community. Due to the nature, complexity, and scale of many projects, most capital works are planned and delivered over a multi-year timeframe. Works completed to date include: Te construction of a new bridge on Copleys Road, Abergowrie Telemetry system upgrades to digitise and improve remote access and connectivity across essential water and sewerage operations Pavement renewal and road widening along Cooks Lane and Pappins Road Reconstruction of the Taylors Beach revetment wall Clearing works along the Lucinda foreshore; and Te delivery of new and upgraded campground facilities at the Mt Fox camping area. In addition to these specifc projects, Council maintains a continuous rolling programme for the maintenance and replacement of critical infrastructure. Tis includes road resheeting, bitumen road resealing, and water and sewer main replacements. Under normal circumstances, works are guided by Council’s asset management plans—mandatory documents that outline condition monitoring and reporting requirements, component life cycles, and defned intervention levels to ensure asset longevity and operational capability. Counter-disaster operations resulting from the 2025 rain event were substantial, given the severity and extended duration of the event, with costs exceeding $2.5 million. Counter- disaster operations refer to immediate response activities undertaken before, during, and shortly afer a disaster event to protect public safety and minimise damage to property and infrastructure. Council has progressed — and continues to progress — the reconstruction of essential public assets, primarily roads throughout the district, including the Mt Fox Range. Te counter-disaster operational costs and projects are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and administered through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority. If you are interested in learning more, information regarding Council’s work programmes, performance, progress, and expenditure is publicly available through monthly reports tabled at Council’s General Meetings. Tese reports can be accessed via Council’s website at: https://www.hinchinbrook.qld.gov. au/our-council/meetings-and-minutes/