The Mount Isa Underground Hospital has undergone critical repairs to put it back at the forefront of Mount Isa's tourism offerings.
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The Underground Hospital and Museum has experienced a busier tourist season than normal this year, with Australians choosing to visit their own backyard.
But during the busiest time of year for tourists, it was forced to undertake essential maintenance to replace the timber in the Underground Hospital tunnels.
Underground Hospital volunteer coordinator Erica Shaw said they had to replace the original gidgee posts, sourced from Mount Isa's underground mine in 2001 with new Oregon timber fixed to the sets.
"We successfully sought funding from Glencore's Community Grants Program and that enabled us to start the work and Rotary Mount Isa came in with the extra funding," Ms Shaw said.
"We also had Secure Mines Solution do the work and they completed it at cost.
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The two-phase project cost $63,000 with phase 1 enabling access to two tunnels in July and phase 2 will restore a third tunnel at the site.
"Phase 1 completed in July and Phase 2 will start as soon as we close for the summer in October," Ms Shaw said.
Andrew Hulme, General Manager for Strategy and Projects, Glencore Queensland Metals, said it was important to preserve the heritage-listed site, while meeting critical safety obligations.
"Since its construction by volunteer Mount Isa Mines workers in 1942, and continuing through to restoration projects today, Mount Isa Mines is proud to have played an important role in preserving this heritage-listed Underground Hospital and Museum," Mr Hulme said.
The Underground Hospital Tunnels and evacuation Hospital was built in 1942 by off-duty Mount Isa Mines workers in response to the bombing of Darwin, and is an important Queensland heritage-listed site.
Over 7000 visitors tour the museum each year, which has a group of dedicated volunteers and staff.
School groups also visit the museum and use the history of the tunnels and tent house as a teaching tool as part of the school curriculum.
Secure Mine Solutions Managing Director, Ashley King said his team was honoured to be part of the restoration work of the historical site.
Tracy Pertovt from Rotary Club of Mount Isa said that the committee did not hesitate to provide the support needed.
"It was our way to acknowledge the historical aspect of our community that this great tourist attraction provides and acknowledging the work of the volunteers. In light of the previous events of 2020 relating to COVID and the inability for groups to fundraise and businesses to operate we realised that urgent action was needed to ensure that the Underground Hospital remained open and operating," Ms Pertovt said.
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