In a year marred by unseasonal wet weather and global events impacting labour supply, rising costs and supply chain challenges, Townsville City Council delivered more than 500 capital projects for the Townsville community.
While some larger-scale projects have been phased into the new financial year for completion, more than 500 parks and open spaces, roads and transport, drains, stormwater, fleet, IT, building, water, wastewater and waste projects were completed across the city.
The capital delivery presentation, which was presented as part of end of year presentations at July’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, highlighted the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic and potential considerations for project delivery in the 2022/23 financial year.
Mayor Jenny Hill said it had been a challenging year for local governments and private contractors across the state.
“We have some major multi-year projects that we are working with contractors to deliver for the city and keeping those on track and to budget in this challenging environment is a key priority for us,” Cr Hill said.
“It is an enormous achievement to still have been able to push ahead with more than 500 projects and complete those in the timeframes we set 12 months ago.”
Some of the projects delivered of the past 12 months include:
- Corcoran Park Netball Courts upgrade
- Nelly Bay to Picnic Bay pedestrian link from existing boardwalk to walking tracks leading to Picnic Bay
- Upgrade of 3.7km of a 20yr old irrigation mainline across Palmetum Botanical Gardens
- Construction of a new pathway along Darling Road to St Anthony’s school
- Construction of a new drain along Apjohn street on Magnetic Island to protect 50 properties from flood risk
- Construction of new multi-purpose sports court with lights at Horseshoe Bay
- Construction of new water mains and decommissioning of old water mains along Ross River Road and Charters Towers Road from Burdekin Street to Goldring Street
- Ross River pipe crossing upgrade to replace failed pipeline with an under-bored pipe which isn’t susceptible to flood damage
- Paluma Dam spillway upgrade
- Wulguru gravity sewer and rising main work to increase capacity in current system and prevent overflows
- Renewal of the half basketball court at Saunders Beach
- Multiple playground renewals
- Installation and renewal of 40 CCTV cameras
- Upgrade of 20 bus stops to be disability compliant
Infrastructure Service Committee chairperson Kurt Rehbein said council’s capital plan for 2022/23 had been set in an environment of continued rising costs, supply chain delays and uncertain contractor and workforce availability.
“In setting our plan for the next financial year, we worked with the Queensland Audit Office and carefully considered what is required to deliver amidst the rapidly changing environment, which continues to impact industry and services across the world,” Cr Rehbein said.
