Mount Isa News May 2022 – Your Local News
Latest Mount Isa News for May 2022
Feasibility Study Funding
Council will be taking the next step towards a possible Motor Sports Park after being successful in securing State Government funding for a feasibility study into the facility.
The $100,000 funding is thanks to the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy’s Building Sustainable Communities Grants, with the feasibility study itself expected to cost $130,000.
The study will provide the foundation to work with project stakeholders for the design, planning, construction and commissioning of a fully operational Motor Sports Park across several sports, associated events, and a driver-training facility.
Mayor Danielle Slade said this was tremendous news for the city. “I know a lot of residents will be welcoming this funding,” Cr Slade said. A motor sports complex will go a long way to improve liveability in Mount Isa, as well as bring in plenty of tourism opportunities, with Mount Isa being in a position to host major motor sport events. “I want to thank the State Government for providing this funding. This is the first big step of many.”
Motor Sports Complex Advisory Committee Chair and Deputy Mayor Phil Barwick said having this study is crucial in determining whether the motor sports park will be practical, sustainable and make sense financially.
“And if it is, the study will be the impetus to apply for further funding that can help make the Park a reality,” Cr Barwick said. Ultimately, this document will set a clear direction for the next steps to be taken.
To support the feasibility study, Council is looking forward to engaging with the community through a survey, which will be released shortly.
So I urge anyone with an interest in motor sports to complete the survey, as it will inform the development and design of the proposed facility.
I am very pleased to hear Council has been successful in securing this important funding and thank the Council staff for their work in completing the application. Council will explore in-kind funding options to progress the delivery of the feasibility study.”
Council will soon put the feasibility study out for public tender.
Mayor Danielle Slade
We have the full 2022-23 Draft Budget documents available online on our website to view or download, or alternatively you can ask for a hard copy from our Customer Services team members at the Administration Building.
Despite the successive long weekends, it has certainly been a busy time at Council in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, May 3, I attended the Better Business North West forum and expo at the Civic Centre, which brought together business, industry and government representatives from across the North West to network and celebrate what makes small businesses in the region great.
There were also two special guests – NRL legend Johnathan Thurston, and beach volleyball Olympic gold medallist Natalie Cook.
On Wednesday, May 4, Queensland Minister for Resources Scott Stewart MP and I officially opened the Gallipoli Park Pump Track and Recreation Development, which Councillors and Council staff also attended.
It was wonderful to give Minister Scott a tour of the facility – he even said he was “blown away” by the quality of the build. There was also a ribbon cutting and unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the official opening.
This idea was spearheaded by Council staff and they worked tirelessly to ensure it came to fruition, so I really commend their efforts.
City Council Updates
Official Opening
The Gallipoli Pump Track and Recreation Development was officially opened on Wednesday, May 4, by Mayor Danielle Slade and Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart, with Councillors and Council staff in attendance.
It included a ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling. The facility features a pump track, a covered workout area with obstacles and equipment inspired by Ninja Warrior, a pedal park, shaded seating and barbecue areas, toilets, and water fountains.
Cr Slade thanked Council staff for the great effort they had put into making the facility a reality. “The initial plans were put to the community and the community themselves told us what they wanted.
This is a result of a fantastic collaboration with the Council and the community. Since the soft opening of the pump track in December last year, we’ve been seeing hundreds and hundreds of families coming here. It’s a tremendous success for us,” Cr Slade said.
Support For Isa Show
Council has locked in its support for the Mount Isa Show for three successive events. At a recent Ordinary Meeting, Council agreed to provide sponsorship for 2022, 2023, and 2024 Mount Isa Shows.
This year the Show is celebrating a big milestone – its 40th year. The sponsorship comprises $35,000 for 2022, $30,000 for 2023, and $25,000 for 2024 (all amounts are excl. GST).
At the meeting, Deputy Mayor Phil Barwick said there were another two big celebrations coming up for future Mount Isa Shows: Mount Isa’s 100th year in 2023, and the 100th year of Mount Isa Mines in 2024.
“It’s important that Council, on behalf of the community, support the show. Agricultural shows around the country are a very important part of the fabric of their communities, especially rural communities like Mount Isa,” Cr Barwick said.
Mount Isa News Update May 22, 2022
Funding For Isa Uni Centre
Mount Isa City Council and Country Universities Centre will receive $2.8 million from the Federal Government to establish a Regional University Centre in Mount Isa. The Centre will offer local students the support and modern facilities they need to undertake tertiary education without needing to leave the area. There are about 40 Regional University Centres across Australia.
Minister for Regional Education Bridget McKenzie said the Centre will significantly boost higher education outcomes for current and future students in Mount Isa and the surrounding region.
“This Centre will significantly boost higher education outcomes for current and future students in Mount Isa and the surrounding region,” Minister McKenzie said
People in regional Australia are less than half as likely to complete a university degree compared with people in cities.
Regional University Centres are helping communities across Australia to reverse this trend.
It is wonderful that once this Centre is up and running, local students won’t need to leave home and relocate to study.
They will be able to enrol in a university course and complete a degree or another tertiary qualification and their skills could stay in the region and help the community.
The new Centre has the potential to change education outcomes in Mount Isa and surrounding regional areas for the benefit of future generations.
“Regional University Centres supported more than 2400 students across Australia in 2021 to undertake further education, many of them who would never have considered this if it wasn’t for these facilities.”
LNP Senator for Queensland Susan McDonald said the Mount Isa community has been lobbying for a tertiary education facility for some time.
“Our local rural and regional students deserve the very best when it comes to their education, and it’s initiatives like this one that will ensure that whoever wants to live in the bush, can stay in the bush,” Senator McDonald said.
The Centre is expected to be open by early 2023. The new centres will complement the existing 26 centres operating in all Australian states and the Northern Territory under the $102 million Regional University Centres program.
Councillor Peta MacRae
It was wonderful to see so many people attending the Great Australian Bites event on Saturday, May 14, to enjoy the excellent food and free live entertainment that was on offer.
The weather was lovely and more than 500 people came along to celebrate what makes local food and produce so great.
Congratulations to multiaward-winning butcher Moselle Meats from Richmond, which took out the overall North West Sausage Champion Butcher title, as well as champion beef and pork sausages.
Thank you to all of the butchers who took part in the first North West Sausages Championships – a total of nine butchers from as far away as Winton and Hughenden submitted their snags for judging, which is a fantastic result.
The next event that is coming up soon is Queensland Day on Sunday, June 5, from 10am to 3pm at Tony White Oval.
Queensland Day is a celebration of everything that’s Queensland and why we love being Queenslanders, and this promises to be a great family friendly day out, with cultural performances and food stalls. And best of all, entry is free.
Latest Mount Isa News Information
• Applications for Council’s Environmental Grants Program have been extended until June 1. Sporting groups, schools, non-forprofit organisations, and community groups are all encouraged to apply. Apply now for up to $5000 per grant to create local environmental and sustainable outcomes that benefit the community.
If you have an idea but are unsure it will meet the funding requirements, call Mount Isa City Council’s Environmental Services team on 4747 3200.
City Council Updates
Winning Snags
The team at Richmond butchery Moselle Meats took out the overall North West Sausage Champion Butcher title at May 14’s Great Australian Bites event, held on the front lawns of the Civic Centre.
Moselle Meats also won the Champion Pork and Beef Sausages categories, while Turanga Butchers won the Any Other Sausage Variety category.
Nine butchers in total from across the North West participated in the North West Sausages Championships, including Gallagher Butchering (Normanton), Flinders Butchery (Hughenden), Julia Creek Butchers, Cloncurry Foodworks, Winton Butchers, Sunset Butchery (Mount Isa), and Big D Meats.
Judging the sausages were Mount Isa’s own Jac and Shaz (former “My Kitchen Rules” grand finalists), and Commerce North West representatives Jeff Constable and Bernie Harnett, who tasted 27 sausages across three categories. And winning the Champion Lamington was the team from Brumby’s Mount Isa. About 500 people attended the event.
Skate Park
Mayor Danielle Slade and Councillors George Fortune, Peta MacRae and Kim Coghlan recently inspected the now completed feature at the Mount Isa Skate Park as part of a soft opening. The feature replaces the former skate bowl at the facility.
As part of the Family Fun Precinct Redevelopment Stage 2 project, the Family Fun Park is now closed for demolition works.
Splashez Aquatic Centre and the Skate Park will remain open and accessible during these works. The Family Fun Park and parkland construction works will commence in June, with target completion towards the end of the year. Installation work for the Skate Park shade structures should begin by July or August.
New Australians
A citizenship ceremony was held in the Civic Centre on Monday, May 9, where 38 people took the pledge to become Australian citizens.
They represent countries including Nigeria, India, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, Kiribati, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uruguay, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Cuba, the Netherlands, China, Fiji, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
The ceremony was presided over by Mayor Danielle Slade, with Councillor Peta MacRae introducing the conferees. Local Kalkadoon Indigenous representative Aunty Hazel Munro gave the Welcome to Country at the ceremony.
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