Wet weather fails to dampen progress on $45.9M capital works program 

Despite prolonged wet weather – including 28 rain days in March alone – Council is making solid progress on its $45.9 million capital program, and a $127-million suite of flood recovery projects. 

Major projects underway include the Noosa Spit sand replenishment project.

"Against a backdrop of wet weather, plus a shortage of construction materials, resources, equipment and contractors our Infrastructure Services Team has worked tirelessly to deliver projects within budget and as quickly as these constraints allow,” Mayor Frank Wilkie said. 

“We’ve delivered around half of the $45.9 million in works for this financial year, and we’ve committed another $10.8 million to be spent in the coming months.” 

Major projects underway include the Noosa Spit sand replenishment to rebuild the eroded beach and improve the navigation channel in the centre of the river mouth. 

“This project will address erosion on the beach by redirecting the current water flow and protecting the Spit and Noosa Sound from storm swells,” Mayor Wilkie said. 

"The Garth Prowd Bridge renewal – another major capital project – is also well under way. 

“This extensive upgrade is a significant investment in an important road network asset,” Infrastructure Director Shaun Walsh said. 

“The work will extend the lifespan of the bridge by 50 years, while boosting safety, and we remain confident contractors will finish work next month on this key project under our bridge refurbishment and replacement program.” 

Other projects completed this year include the Tewantin Memorial Park Pathway Upgrade and Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre Renewal Works, plus significant road reseal and patching work. 

“We’ve carried out $4.2 million worth of reseal work so far and are on target to spend our $5 million budget for reseal work this financial year,” Mr Walsh said. 

“We’ve also completed more than $1 million worth of work so far under this year’s $1.5 million heavy patching program with upgrades to a host of hinterland roads.” 

Local roads resurfaced under the road reseal program over the past three months include Cooroy Noosa Road Tewantin, Heathland Drive Sunrise Beach, and Arkana Drive Noosa Heads. 

Roads tackled as part of the heavy patching program include Illoura Place Cooroibah, Roberts Drive Cooroy and Sister Tree Creek Road Kin Kin. 

“Our Infrastructure Services Team is tackling all of this while we continue to deliver $127 million worth of Queensland Reconstruction Authority-funded recovery projects, stemming from the February 2022 Noosa floods,” Mayor Wilkie said. 

“Within the team, our design staff are working on 20 projects this year and continue to provide design and survey support to over 60 projects.  

“In addition to the capital program we have 53 multi-year projects in various stages of completion. 

“It’s been another huge year for our Infrastructure Services team.”