Moreton Bay Regional Council Budget: Divisions 10-12 highlights

Division 10

Councillor Matt Constance believes greater investment in The Hills Business precincts and improving the efficiency of local roads will enhance future population growth while maintaining a pleasurable lifestyle.

“This year’s budget is about balancing the needs of people with the needs of the environment,” he says.

“Council is embarking on a major program to protect koala habitats and our natural surrounds, with plans for new fauna crossings in our area in the coming years, including koala underpasses to reduce the risk of wildlife from entering the road corridors.

“We will also invest in driver awareness signage and environmental line marking to reduce driver distraction and, ultimately, wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The Yarral-yarral Reserve and the Bunyaville Conservation Park are two of our most important conservation reserves so we will be investing heavily in fauna crossings along Bunya Road, The Jinker Track, and Samford Road in Ferny Hills to make sure wildlife can move freely between habitat areas in search of food.

“Naturally keeping our wildlife safe is only one part of the picture, we need to make sure that our residents and road users are safe too, especially after non-stop rain wreaked havoc on our roads.

“We will invest $1.17 million on road resurfacing around The Hills to fix potholes and improve local roads.

“The Plucks and South Pine roads intersection upgrade at Arana Hills will undergo a $2.6 million transformation. This is a notorious stretch of downhill road, particularly when wet, so our designs aim to improve the flow of traffic and safety with new lights, anti-skid surfacing, and drainage.”

More than $4 million will be spent on upgrading sporting precincts, which was highlighted by residents who participated in the Moreton Says survey.

“You also told us via ‘Moreton Says’ that Council should invest more in sport, which is why James Drysdale Reserve’s soccer fields are getting a $2 million overhaul for a regulation sized pitch, a new community space and building fit-out with assistance from the federal government,” Cr Constance says.

“If you’ve not been to James Drysdale Reserve recently you really should, its evolved as an incredible community hub thanks to year-on-year investments like this and I’m proud of how many different user groups now call this amazing precinct home.

“After starting concept designs based on your suggestions for the redevelopment of the old Club Arana building at 303 Dawson Parade, we are now progressing this to the planning stage.

“This is a real passion project for me to create an entirely new community space in the heart of The Hills District, to bring more life and vibrancy to our CBD.

“Council skate parks across Moreton Bay are getting the gold medal treatment on our road to the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics here in South East Queensland, with $1.3 million earmarked for the Albany Creek Skate Park thanks to assistance from the federal government.”

Budget highlights for Division 10

• $2.58 million to upgrade the intersection of South Pine Road & Plucks Road in Arana Hills

• $2 million to expand the soccer facilities at James Drysdale Reserve in Bunya, with federal government support

• $1.33 for a revamp of Albany Creek’s skate park on Old Northern Road, with federal government support

• $1.24 to upgrade the intersection in Arana Hills where Plucks Road, Caesar Road and Hutton Road meet

• $1.1 million for new pathways to connect Plucks Road to Minto Crescent in Arana Hills

• $800,000 to renew the tennis courts in Wahminda Park in Ferny Hills, with federal government support

• $350,000 to fix the staircase and pathways in Nulty Way Park in Arana Hills, with state government support

• $334,000 for fauna Crossing Infrastructure Installations along Bunya Road, Bunya

• $300,000 for drainage upgrades along Grevillea Street, Everton Hills

• $250,000 to upgrade the intersection of Gordon Road and Ferny Way, Ferny Hills

Division 11

Councillor Darren Grimwade says the budget has been designed to improve infrastructure like roads, while also protecting the environment, before the region hits population forecasts.

“We’ve heard loud and clear through the Moreton Says Survey that locals want Council to change its priorities to better protect our environment and improve the efficiency of road networks before we hit our population forecasts,” he said.

“So, we’re ramping-up our enormously successful land buyback program, so we can protect more natural areas from development.

“This will see the environmental component of the Regional Infrastructure and Environment charge increase by $6 this year ($22 in 2022-23 from $16 in 2021-22) which gives us a green war chest for strategic land acquisitions and tree plantings.”

A key component of this year’s budget will also be focused on enhancing the villages, townships and suburbs for residents and visitors to enjoy.

“I can’t wait to open the brand-new $1.96 million community hall at Camp Constable in Mt Glorious, which will include a play area for kids,” Cr Grimwade says.

“Samford’s getting a $1.3 million ‘village make-over’ to enhance the contemporary rural character of this charming enclave with new landscaping, paving, and street installations along Main Street.

“And I can reassure the 600 locals who provided feedback on this streetscaping project, that we are absolutely acting on your calls for more car parking in the village, with Council investing $800,000 to build a new carpark next to Alan Cash Park (behind the Farmers Hall) with federal government funding.

“This will make the village more accessible and provide more parking for residents, as well as constructing a laneway to link the new carpark to Main Street’s shops and businesses.

“The Dayboro Swimming Pool will soon have a much-needed safe play area for toddlers with $350,000 for a new ‘zero depth splash pad’ thanks to federal government funding. This is something families and carers have been asking for and we hope will introduce toddlers to water in a safe and enjoyable way.

“The Council building on Williams Street at Dayboro will also see renewal works addressing structural issues to keep this valued heritage building in good working order for decades to come.

“Narangba is the big winner with a massive $6 million investment program for the intersection upgrade of Oakey Flat Road with Young Road, outside the Narangba Heights Estate.

“This is a critical project that the community has been calling for and will ensure that the hundreds of families and kids living in the recently constructed residential estates west of Oakey Flat Road, can safely cross this busy road with dedicated pedestrian crossing lights incorporated into the final design.

“Also, in Narangba we’ll be constructing a half-basketball court at the Williamina Sports Complex, which I’m proud we are delivering for local families who’ve called for more recreational infrastructure in their neighbourhood and will compliment the recently completed playground at this location.”

Budget highlights for Division 11

• $6 million to upgrade the intersection of Young Road and Oakey Flat Road

• $1.3 million for streetscaping and beautification works along the Main Street of Samford Village

• $1.22 million for safety upgrades to Mount Nebo Road, Mount Nebo

• $800,000 to construct a new carpark next to Alan Cash Park in Samford Village, with federal government funding

• $793,000 for curve upgrading to Mount Nebo Road at the Goat Track

• $650,000 for road improvements and upgrades to Cedar Creek Road

• $550,000 to complete works at the Camp Constable Community Hall, Mount Glorious

• $535,000 for wetland construction at the Williamina Sports Ground, Narangba

• $450,000 for an upgrade to the council building in Dayboro

• $350,000 to construct a zero-depth splash pad at the Dayboro Swimming Pool with federal government funding

Division 12

Councillor Tony Latter says community connectivity, local sports and regional events were a big focus of this year’s Council budget.

“I’m proud to say this year we’ll not only complete the incredible $4.15 million transformation of the Petersen Road Sports Ground, but this year also adding an extra $770,000 in the Budget to replace the old irrigation system and ensure the fields are kept in top form,” Cr Latter says.

“I’m an enormous fan of the Caboolture Region Environmental Education Centre (CREEC) at Burpengary, so I’m thrilled it scored a massive $1.5 million for new play equipment, barbecues and shelters, amenities, and landscaping to make it even more attractive to local residents and visitors. There’s also a carpark thanks to funding from the Queensland Government.

“CREEC is a unique facility in Moreton Bay where kids can learn all about our local environment from indoor displays or outside, in the all-abilities playground, featuring a wheelchair accessible play area, sensory walls, flying foxes and slides - so if you haven’t discovered it yet, make sure you check it out.

“Importantly, we’re also investing $544,000 to repair and improve the netball courts at Woodford Showgrounds to help the club get back on its feet, and also to help meet the demand for this popular sport.

“I have been getting a lot of feedback from our community about the need for work at our smaller parks in local neighbourhoods, so this year’s budget includes funding for playgrounds at Atwood Street Park in Wamuran and Alcock Park in Elimbah

“At Lake View Park in Morayfield we’ll be installing new playground equipment, benches and general improvements to gardens and paths, which will make a big difference.

“But it’s not just people benefiting from park upgrades, the dog off leash area at the Woodford Sports Complex on Neurum Road will get a $200,000 revamp including a compliant asphalt carpark, steel reinforced concrete pathway, tree planting and garden beds.

“This year also marks the start of community consultation and planning for two new park projects: A district-level recreation park at Campbells Pocket Road in Wamuran and a Pump Track at Tilney Road in Woodford.

“In the interim, we’ll start work to upgrade the Junior Playground at Tilney Park with $160,000 for new play equipment and shade sails (over two years).”

A significant portion of the budget will also go towards road maintenance.

“There’s also $130,000 in the Budget this year for a footpath along Kurrajong Road, $380,000 for footpaths along Nairn Road, Morayfield (Over two years) and $590,000 to complete the ‘missing link’ in footpaths along Madeline Drive, Morayfield which was made possible with assistance from the state government,” Cr Latter says.

“Council’s doubled gravel to seal program budget will continue for the third year with $1m budgeted for dirt roads in rural areas this year.

“The gravel to seal program will include: $148,000 for Heisner Road in Mount Mee, $92,000 for Whyte Road at Neurum, and $64,000 for Hoffman Road in Wamuran.

“There’s a combined $535,000 for road rehabilitation at Archer Street and road widening at Stanton Road.”

Budget Highlights for Division 12

• $1.5 million to upgrade the parks at CREEC, Burpengary

• $1.5 million to improve flood mitigation and drainage along Mathew Crescent in Burpengary (over two years)

• $770,000 to install irrigation at the Petersen Road Sports Ground, Morayfield

• $590,000 to complete the ‘missing link’ in footpaths along Madeline Drive, Morayfield

• $544,000 to repair and improve the netball courts at Woodford Showgrounds following the floods

• $380,000 for footpaths along Nairn Road, Morayfield (Over two years)

• $305,000 for road rehabilitation works along Archer Street, Woodford

• $200,000 to build a replica vintage train play area in Nashos Memorial Park along the Caboolture-Wamuran Rail Trail

• $300,000 to upgrade Alcock Road Park, Caboolture including new play equipment, shade sails, half-court basketball and car park area

•$155,000 to install a new playground a Lakeview Park, Morayfield