39 projects prioritised by Fraser Coast council
From Glenwood to Hervey Bay the “priority projects” your rates will contribute to, and the council will call on State and Federal leaders to help fund in the next year, can be revealed.
Fraser Coast
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Improvements to roads and bridges, the next stage of sports precinct construction and upgrades of the iconic Urangan Pier are among the 39 “priority projects” the Fraser Coast council will focus on in the coming year.
The list was agreed to in the Priority Advocacy Projects 2024 document, which the council will now submit to the State and Federal Governments for funding approval.
Top targeted projects include planned upgrades to the Hervey Bay City Centre over 10 year and a $20 million facelift for the Maryborough Library.
Also on the list is a request for $10 million to cover the costs of rebranding and promoting the world’s largest sand island and region’s biggest tourism drawcard following the official renaming of Fraser Island to K’gari.
Mayor George Seymour said the document provided decision makers with a clear and consistent message of what was needed to secure the Coast’s future.
The council has a $430 million budget for 2023/24, which it says focuses “on delivering essential services efficiently while planning for growth”.
Mr Seymour said “securing funding and support for these projects would help the council deliver services that meet the unique needs of our growing community”.
The Fraser Coast is one of the fastest-growing regions in Queensland, with a population of about 115,000 in 2023 that is forecast to grow to 144,000 by 2040, according to IdCommunity.com.
Hervey Bay on its own is growing by 1.5 per cent annually and now has a population of about 59,000.
The council says the projects will ensure the area remains “one of the best places in the world to live, work and play”.
The full list of locations with upgrades planned include:
1. The Hervey Bay City Centre
2. Boundary Road, Urangan
3. The Esplanade in Hervey Bay – Numerous upgrades including creating a one-way loop to reduce vehicle traffic and reduce road width. Undertaking dune rehabilitation – successfully planting to enhance dune vegetation. Maintaining and protecting mature trees in Point Vernon that are of cultural and environmental significance.
4. Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct
5. The Moonaboola Industrial Estate
6. Active Travel Signature Projects
7. Circular Economy – Glass Recycling Facility
8. Hervey Bay / Maryborough Water Grid
9. Replacement of Kunst Bridge
10. The Pulgul Creek Sewage Treatment Plant
11. The Coastal Protection Plan
12. Maryborough library
13. Howard – This funding is being sought to provide improvements to the liveability of Howard via the upgrade of essential infrastructure.
14. Anzac Park lighting
15-16. Urraween Road
17. Scrub Hill Road
18. Sempfs Road Shared Pathway
19. Mary to the Bay Rail Trail
20. Sawmill Road Upgrade
21. The River Heads barge ramp reconstruction
22. The River Heads Barge Ramp Cluster Piles
23. The Hervey Bay Theatre Business Case
24. Desalination plants
25. Bridge Replacement Program – Burrum River
26. Glenwood Community Centre
27. Urangan Pier Refurbishment – This project provides for the works to maintain Urangan Pier including the replacement of timber decking boards, maintenance of connections and pylon maintenance
28. Hervey Bay Esplanade Pedestrian Crossing Facilities
29. Crime prevention – “Low-cost interventions such as opening up sight lines, target hardening of public spaces to reduce crime, artworks and other low-cost beautification projects to improve the sense of community safety”.
30. Coastal beach accessways
31. DDA compliance for active travel initiatives
32. Maryborough to Hervey Bay Transport Corridor
33. Granville Bridge
34. Fraser Coast Industrial Land
35. The Cambridge and Odessa Streets intersection
36. Urangan Harbour
37. Booral Road, Main Street floodway upgrade
38. Rebrand costs following the official renaming of Fraser Island to K’gari
39. The Bruce Highway – Gympie Road Interchange in Torbanlea
Further details can be found on the Fraser Coast Regional Council website.
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