What locals councils across the region decided in April

Cloncurry Shire Council

Cloncurry approved a Development Permit for a Material Change of Use Development Application Permit - Outdoor Recreation at Florence Clark Park. It includes an Accessible Amenities Building, an Akora Shelter and a Skate Scoot Ride Layout.

Council also decided not to support the Legends of League event which would have been held in Cloncurry on August 27-28 2021.

Boulia Shire Council

Council awarded the contract for the upgrade of the Min Min Encounter redevelopment and project management to XZibit and entered into an interest free loan agreement for $476,735 through the Department of State Development, Local Government, Infrastructure and Planning under the Building Acceleration Fund for a period of 15 years. They allocated $60,000 from operational funds to support the completion of the building redevelopment and meet the loan terms.

Boulia Shire was unable to commit to the 5 year program of four point nine eight million ($4.98m) 20% contribution to match the Federal Government's 80% allocation to the continued sealing of the Donohue Highway section of the Outback Way and resolved to support all actions for the continued employment of Council staff on the continued sealing of the Outback Way and seek avenues for this to happen.

Burke Shire Council

In its special meeting April 8 Council confirmed the naming of the Burketown Wharf Precinct and Gregory Spectator shed. Burketown now has a Don Bowley Burketown Wharf Precinct and the Gangalidda name Lalala Gujurunggi will also be acknowledged on the Wharf Precinct signage. The Gregory facility will be known as Buffalo Picnic Pavilion.

Council also awarded four road packages to Graham Bailey Earthmoving Pty Ltd for $2,886,664 as well as three contracts to K & G Booth Pty Ltd $947,439, Commins Contracting Pty Ltd $550,873.03 and Gulf Civil Pty Ltd $1,022,165.91.

Council awarded a Gravel Stockpiling tender to Graham Bailey Earthmoving for $223,862.

In its April 22 meeting Council endorsed projects for the 2021-24 Works for Queensland funding program as: a. Intelligent Water Network (including Smart Water Meters) b. Sewerage network upgrade c. Gregory River pedestrian bridge d. Burketown Wharf recreational grounds e. Burketown boat washdown bay

Carpentaria Shire Council

Council approved the reduction of operating hours to 3pm to 6pm for both Karumba and Normanton pools. and approved the closure of both pools over the winter periods from June 1 to August 31.

Council has sought Expressions of Interest for future television and radio transmission services to Normanton and Karumba. They will contact Imparja, Seven, Nine and Ten to see if they have any plans for rebroadcasting in Carpentaria Shire and will provide a report to the next meeting in relation to a proposal for installation and subsidisation of VAST boxes for Normanton and Karumba residents.

Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council

Senator McDonald attended the meeting and discussed the Northern Australia Project which Council would like to be involved with. Also suggested they begin to look at the Savannah Way as a West to East Road as this will give Doomadgee a first "bite of the cherry" when prioritising funding and projects.Council would like to work with Government and Burke Shire in recognising the responsibility over local roads within the Burke Shire. Discussed Economic Development in Doomadgee. CEO, Troy Fraser to send the latest approved strategy to Senator McDonald to discuss further.. Discussed the language program. Senator McDonald supports the initiative.

Tony Douglas attended the Council Meeting as the representative of Wambilbayi Rodeo and Sporting Indigenous Corporation seeking Council's support for the running of the Rodeo for the third year. He was advised that there was no financial support available.

Flinders Shire Council

Council has agree for Mayor Jane McNamara to be part of a Queensland state fossil Advisory Panel and she has nominated 'Muttaburrasaurus Langdoni' as a fossil to represent Queensland.

Council accepted a tender from Cheshire Contractors Pty Ltd for $1,659,898.72 to complete the roadworks for the Brodie Street Revitalisation Project:

Hughenden is experiencing a severe shortage of accommodation which will increase in upcoming years due to grape farm, road works and the increased domestic tourism numbers. Council will expand the Hughenden Allen Terry Caravan Park and decided to remove the Single Men's Quarters and use the money from the sale of the assets to build new dwellings.Council will also spend $200,000 to upgrade the caravan park.

Council approved the Shopfront Improvement Grant funding to The Exchange Hotel Torrens Creek for $5,000, Holden's Bakery for $5,000, Payne Plumbing & Accounting Office Building for $4,413 and Laundromat and Windmill Inn Café for $4,655.25.

Council also approved $2000 community grants to: Hughenden Town and Country Club Inc. Hughenden Netball Association Inc. Hughenden Jockey Club Inc. Prairie Jockey Club Inc.Campdraft 4 A Cause Inc. Hughenden Bowls Club Inc. Stamford Race Club Inc.Hughenden Show Society Inc. Hughenden Golf Club Inc. Hughenden Bulls Rugby League Club Inc. Flinders Horse Sports Inc. Flinders Hack and Pony Club Inc. Hughenden Country Music Association Inc. Hughenden Campdrafters Association Inc. Flinders River Roping Association Inc. Flinders Classic Challenge and Campdraft Inc. Flinders Classic ($4000), Hughenden RSL ($1000).

McKinlay Shire Council

In a special meeting April 15 council approved a tender from Stabilised Pavements Australia for $1,116,214.36 for Sealing and Stabilising works on the Julia Creek Truck Park, Cannington Rd, Shaw St and Taldora Rd.

Accept the tender from Asset Cabins and Homes for $315,000 for the Design and Construct Modular House Julia Creek, with a view to placing a house on the recently purchased 71 Coyne St vacant lot.

At its regular meeting April 20 Council agreed to a Community Sponsorship Request for McKinlay Race Club for $5,000 and Julia Creek P&C Association - $1,010 s under the Community Benefit Assistance Scheme program.

Council approved the Community Sponsorship Request for Julia Creek Campdraft for $5,000 and the waiver of venue hire fees.

Council committed $5000 to the North Queensland Sports Foundation Overlanders Way Festival of Sport.2021.

Council reallocated $30,000 from the Capital Works project 'McKinlay Water Telemetry' to the Caravan Park Works for Queensland projects 'Artesian Bath Restoration', 'Caravan Park - Extension Veranda Donga', 'Caravan Park - Replacement of light poles, power supply'.

Re the MPHS: the current aim is to re-open the aged care wing and ensure it remains open, then through the current and ongoing recruitment of Doctors and nurses and return the MPHS back to a level where it can once again receive and hold acute patients overnight as required.

Mornington Shire Council

Council awarded a contract to Gulf Civil Pty Ltd to deliver works totalling $385,457.94 as an outcome of the Restoration of Mornington Shire Road Assets

Richmond Shire Council

Council has rejected a Queensland Police request to access CCTV footage "for a number of reasons" though the minutes did not outline the reasons.

Winton Shire Council

Council awarded tender Construction of Concrete Floodway to: Stockham Building Services - Site 1: Corfield Richmond Road Chainage 26.84km (Sutton Creek) for $123,930. Stockham Building Services - Sites 2, 3, and 4: Diamantina River Road Western Channels, for $123,930. Stockham Building Services - Sites 5 & 6 Diamantina River Road Chainage 46.5 and 49.25km for $161,109.

Council awarded Bitumen Sealing Tender for the Lark Quarry Access Road Pave and Seal Project to RPQ Spray Seal Pty Ltd for $336,774.32

Council awarded Bitumen Sealing Tender for the Kennedy Development Road Pave and Seal Project to RPQ Spray Seal Pty Ltd for $210,014.25.

Council awarded tender for the components of Stable 1 (including Swab Room) and Stable 2 to Mann Made Construction for $744,400.

Council agreed to sponsor the Central Western Rugby League for $2,500 and provide $16,500 in-kind support to the Vision Splendid Outback Film Festival and $50,000 sponsorship a year for four years.

Council award Bitumen Sealing Tender for the Seal Works on the Winton / Richmond Road to Boral Resources (QLD) Pty Ltd for $454,737.88.