October 15, 2015
The South Burnett Regional Council estimates it could cost as much as $270,000 to re-open Nanango’s McCauley Weir to the public for recreational boating and fishing.
The Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA), which has been advocating to have the weir re-opened since 2013, received the estimate in a letter from Council CEO Gary Wall this week.
Mr Wall said Council had three main concerns about NaTDA’s proposal:
- The cost of making the weir’s access road safe for all types of vehicles
- The cost of erecting public facilities at the site, such as toilets
- The need to secure the weir’s disused water processing facilities
Mr Wall said Council’s estimate to do these things was around $270,000, and with existing Budget constraints it did not have the money available for the project in the current financial year.
The Council was willing to look at putting the project into its forward plans, he said.
But until it was able to undertake the project, the weir – the site of Nanango’s original water supply – would need to remain closed in the interests of public safety.
Mr Wall said Councillors had recently undertaken an on-site inspection of the site, and he extended an offer to take a small number of NaTDA delegates on a similar inspection tour so they could see the current condition of the weir’s access road, former water processing plant and public areas themselves.
President Gloria Kirkness said she was heartened by the news, and the group would be pleased to take up the Council’s offer.
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NaTDA will nominate a number of Nanango and district residents for the 2016 Australia Day Awards.
The group has formed a subcommittee to research suitable nominees and prepare nominations in various categories.
At its October meeting on Thursday night, the group also called for suggestions from the floor.
Several people with a long involvement in local sports, culture and business were suggested.
They will be vetted by the subcommittee in coming weeks.
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Nanango’s Mardi Gras Money Christmas promotion kicked off on October 1 and has received a very positive reaction so far, Thursday night’s meeting was told.
However it seemed there are still some people in the local community who are unclear about how the promotion operates.
NaTDA member Graham Archdall, who organised the promotion together with John Fearnley from the Nanango Veterinary Surgery, said this issue will be addressed shortly.
Cr Barry Green said he was confident the promotion would be very successful, and thought it was only natural a few teething problems would crop up in its first year.
“The ultimate aim of Mardi Gras Money is to give everyone who shops locally in Nanango a free, all expenses paid party on New Years Eve,” Cr Green said.
“The Nanango Mardi Gras Committee will be supplying the venue, the entertainment and the fireworks; and Nanango’s business community will be supplying the food, the drinks and the rides.
“All people have to do is turn up and have a great time.”
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A planned community street party to celebrate the completion of Nanango’s CBD upgrade may have to be postponed until the New Year.
Cr Green told Thursday’s NaTDA meeting Council workers have been working long hours to complete the project – including working on RDOs and occasional weekends – but had been stymied at times by factors out of their control.
While he thought it was still likely the project would be completed on schedule, the unsettled weather that hit the region in recent days showed that even the best laid plans could be derailed.
“If we were to hold it any later than the first week of November, I think this would interfere with Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations,” Cr Green said.
“So we may look at holding it early next year instead, or possibly not at all.”
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NaTDA will hold its Christmas break-up party at the Nanango Race Club’s Christmas Race Meeting on December 5.
The group will sponsor one of the meeting’s races, and erect a marquee so members can socialise and reflect on the year’s achievements.
The group will not meet in January.
Normal monthly meetings will resume from the third Thursday of February onwards.
