July 19, 2018
Cherbourg has copped a lot of rubbishing lately … which isn’t fair to the vast majority of the town’s residents or its hard-working local Council.
In reality, there’s been a lot of very positive things happening at Cherbourg this year.
Some have made the news, including the award-winning Ration Shed and Barambah Pottery, but there’s been lots of other things happening in the town, too, away from the media spotlight.
The recycling centre – more formally known as a “materials recovery facility”- is busily processing rubbish delivered by Cleanaway from Gympie Regional Council as well as waste from Stanwell’s Tarong Power Station.
The shed has doubled in size and had new equipment installed, all handled in-house by Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council workers.
Council Economic Development Officer Sean Nicholson said 200 tonnes of waste had already been separated and sold from the facility, which is not yet working anywhere near its full capacity.
Stage 2, which is being planned, will increase the handling capacity to an estimated 10,000 tonnes a year as well as create more local jobs.
Cherbourg will also be an accredited drop-off point when the State Government’s container deposit scheme comes into force on November 1.
A designated area is being established for the public to access at the old dairy site on the Cherbourg Road.
Cherbourg Council’s visionary project to provide much-needed new housing in the town is also nearing completion.
The last group of 10 houses being built on the south-western side of the town is almost finished.
Most of these are three, four or five bedrooms, to cater for larger families.
This brings the total number of new dwellings constructed in Cherbourg in recent years to more than 50.
The Cherbourg Council offices have also received a makeover to improve the working conditions for staff.
The foyer has been opened out and a new customer counter put in place.
The Mayor’s office has been renovated, a wi-fi internet system installed as well as a new kitchen, air-conditioning and electrical wiring.
A disability toilet has also been created at the rear of the Council meeting room.
Council also received funding this year under the State Government’s Indigenous Local Government Sustainability Program for a number of projects including:
- A cattle farm water supply and safety grid upgrade, including installing tanks and troughs into paddocks
- Water infrastructure and fire hydrant upgrades in town
- Data cabling and communication upgrades in the Council offices
- Cherbourg Farm vegetable nursery upgrade
Other projects completed by Cherbourg Council recently include:
- A new toilet block at Bert Button Lookout
- Repainting of the Les Stewart Snr Sports Centre and improved ventilation in the building
- Renovation of the toilets at Cherbourg Cemetery as well as the installation of a new fence and two new shade gazebos
- Improvements at the water treatment plant
Most of these were funded under the State Government’s Works For Queensland program, designed to enable all Queensland councils to complete small projects.
Cherbourg Council received $1.18 million for 16 projects under this scheme.
(South Burnett Regional Council received $4.385 million for 20 projects under the same program.)
Sean said that at the moment Cherbourg Council had three farm programs under way as well as four construction and three recycling projects. These have created about 29 local jobs so far.
He said Cherbourg had definitely gone ahead in recent years.
“We now have a better waste treatment plant, better sewerage, better bridges and roads, better fencing, better housing and new equipment at Council,” Sean said.
“We also have some great managers and great staff.
“We can provide good jobs in the community, if we do the job right.”
