Major Upgrade Planned for Camooweal Facilities

Council will be carrying out a major upgrade of the Camooweal Community Hall and completing other works throughout the town, thanks to a $909,519 grant from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

The Camooweal Facilities Refurbishment and Upgrades project will involve:

• The upgrade of the Community Hall, incorporating electrical and fire safety upgrades, re-stumping/levelling of the building, and finishing floor levelling, particularly on the external deck, to bring the building up to Heritage and safety standards;
• Installing essential infrastructure to Camooweal’s open Ellen Finlay Park and tennis court, including lighting, security fencing and sporting infrastructure;
• The refurbishment of public toilets at the Camooweal Community Hall; and
• Minor cemetery upgrades, including the restoration of shade facilities and general clean-up/safety works.

Councillor Paul Stretton, who looks after the Camooweal portfolio, said the almost 100-year-old Community Hall is the main historical landmark of the town and is Heritage-listed.

“The hall has been used by members of the Camooweal community for countless social gatherings, weddings, events and public meetings over the decades and is also where residents celebrate special events like Anzac Day and Australia Day,” Cr Stretton said.

“Given its advanced age and condition, it was crucial for us to carry out some serious work to it, and I’m very happy that Council will be doing just that soon.

“This project will ensure Camooweal residents will be able to use and enjoy the hall for many more years to come.

“We have listened to residents’ concerns and will be installing multi-purpose goal posts at Ellen Finlay Park, to cater to sporting activities, and will be upgrading the public toilets next to the hall.

“We will also be installing specialist lighting and about 140 metres of security fencing and carrying out surface refurbishments to the double tennis court off Nowranie Street.”

Mayor Danielle Slade said the upgrade is tremendous news for Camooweal.

“Camooweal residents do so much work to ensure they preserve the cattle history of the area and have this on display for tourists, as well as organise great events like the Cattleman’s Drover’s Camp,” Cr Slade said.

“This funding is an investment in Camooweal’s future and I’m hoping as a Council we can direct more funding this way in the future.

“I would like to thank the Federal Government and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack MP for providing us with this opportunity, through this funding program, to carry out this important work in Camooweal.”

Council also received $100,000 in funding from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which will go towards the installation of between six and 12 extra CCTV security cameras throughout the Mount Isa community.

The project aims to expand the city’s existing CCTV network across various key “hotspot” locations to strategically safeguard public spaces and discourage vandalism and other antisocial behaviour.

The four-way, all-in-one cameras will provide 24-hour surveillance, with footage collected to be stored and accessed only by Mount Isa Police.

The Camooweal and CCTV works are expected to be completed by mid-2021.