Category: Community Noticeboard

TMR Range Road Update – February 2021

Good afternoon all 

As Meghan is currently away from the office, I am looking after community engagement for works along Mt Spec Road and have some important information to share.

Geotechnical investigations (night closures) rescheduled

Geotechnical investigations on Mt Spec Road, initially scheduled to occur nightly from 8-17 February 2021, will be rescheduled. The works have been impacted by wet weather and the project team has made the decision to reschedule the works to a later date. At this time, TMR is proposing to recommence the nightly geotechnical investigations on 6pm Monday 22 February, continuing until 6am Saturday 6 March 2020 (weather permitting). During these works, road closure times will remain the same as for previous works – 6pm to 6am Monday to Thursday, and 7pm to 7am Friday. An updated information flyer is attached and Meghan will send a reminder closer to the works recommencement date.  

Temporary day road closure required next week

Due to wet weather conditions on site earlier this week, an incident occurred at Mountain Creek which resulted in a light tower trailer (being used for the night works) slipping off the roadway and falling down the slope. The incident resulted in minor vegetation damage only and the fallen light tower is not posing a safety risk to traffic or people.  However, a crane will be required to remove the light tower as crews are unable to drag it up the slope due to the risk of damaging the heritage stone wall at this location. To ensure the safety of both workers and motorists, the retrieval will need to be undertaken during daylight hours and will require a temporary road closure of 4-5 hours when the crane is on site and operating.

To undertake these works, TMR is proposing to implement a temporary day closure of Mt Spec Road on either Tuesday (16/2) OR Wednesday (17/2) next week, from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

I am seeking your feedback on these proposed closure times before anything further is confirmed.  If you have any concerns with the proposed dates or times of the day closure, please let me know by reply email.  While we recognise these works will have an impact on the Mt Spec community and we may not be able to accommodate everyone’s travel requirements, the objective is to minimise these impacts and obtain a general consensus from the majority of residents and stakeholders on the suitability of proposed closure times.  Subject to community feedback, TMR will confirm closure times with the contractor and further information will be sent out from Meghan early next week.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as TMR completes essential works along Mt Spec Road.

Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone on 4421 8970 should you wish to discuss anything further.

Kind regards

Kelly Stolz

Customer and Stakeholder Management 
Northern District | Department of Transport and Main Roads

Floor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8711
engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
www.tmr.qld.gov.au

Paluma Social Events for 2021

Dear Members of the PDCA, Paluma Residents, Friends & Neighbours,

Please note that your PDCA has a newly formed sub-committee known as the ‘Social Committee’ (or perhaps more aptly termed the ‘Any Excuse for a Get-Together Sub-Committee’!!).

Your new Social Committee Members are:- Lynn Hyland, Les Hyland, Colwyn Campbell, Lynda Radbone and Michele Bird.

The inaugural meeting of this new sub-committee was held just recently and we have set about in planning an array of Social Events over the coming year. We hope there will be plenty of opportunities in 2021 for you to get out of the house, dust off your best outfit, catch up with friends and neighbours and also dress up and be a bit silly on the odd occasion, should you feel inclined…..!

We do encourage all Paluma residents and PDCA Members to contact us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback on upcoming and future Social Events. We are sure many of you have some great ideas for future Social Events and we would love to hear from you.

A working list of the planned Social Events for 2021 is outlined below and regular posts will be added to the website to remind you of upcoming events. Please join us to support your PDCA, to share some great food, good company, good humour and the odd beverage. All are very welcome.

The exciting events to come are:-

Saturday 20 February Chinese New Year Social (Evening)

Saturday 20 March St. Patricks Day Social (Evening)

Sunday 4 April PDCA Paluma Markets

Saturday 24 April PDCA Annual General Meeting with BBQ (Lunch)

Saturday 15 May Petanque (Bocce) and Nibbles on the Green (Afternoon)

Saturday 12 June Les Hyland’s 90th Birthday Party (Evening)

Saturday 26 June Bush Dance – Wattle n Gum

Sunday 27 June Paluma PDCA Markets

Saturday 17 July Paluma Push Bike Race (Outer Limits Event)

Saturday 7 August International Night Social (Evening)

Saturday 11 September Back to the 70’s Social (Evening)

Sunday 3 October PDCA Paluma Markets

Saturday 9 October ‘Paluma-Fest’ Social – BBQ, Beer and Bonfire Night

Sunday 24 October Community Hall 20th Anniversary (Morning Tea)

Sunday 31 October Paluma Trail Run (Outer Limits Event)

Saturday 6 November Return of the Monsters & Mayhem on the Mountain

Saturday 11 December Tropical BBQ Social (Evening)

Cleaner position at PEEC

CLEANER

Permanent Part-Time 9.75 hours per week 

Paluma Environmental Education Centre

Ref : PEEC 2021-01

Position based at the Centre at 53 Mount Spec Road, Paluma, 4816

Application package available from the Business Manager, phone 07 4772 9555 or 4750 8528.

Successful applicant will be required to hold a current suitability card (Blue Card) from Blue Card Services before they commence work. 

The prospective employee is responsible for the cost of the Blue Card Check and the subsequent issue of the suitability card.  Please check the Blue Card Services website for current fees.

The successful applicant will also be required to undertake a Criminal History Check prior to commencement.

Successful applicant may be subject to a probationary period

Applications close 4:00pm Friday,  19 February 2021

Chinese New Year Social, Saturday 20 February

The year 2021 is flying by and it’s time for the first Paluma Social Event of the year. Chinese New Year will be acknowledged and celebrated in true Paluma-style and you are invited to attend. 2021 is the Year of the Ox.

When: Saturday 20 February 2021 at 6.30 PM

Where: Paluma Community Hall

What to Bring: The usual. A Chinese-inspired or other delectable savoury or sweet dish to share with your friends and neighbours.

Dress: Yes please, whatever you like to wear, but clothing is preferred. If you have a Chinese outfit, please don’t hesitate to come along in costume.

Barman Les will be open to serve all kinds of beverages at bargain prices.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.

TMR Range Road Update: Planned Works in 2021

Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas and an opportunity to relax and unwind over the Christmas / New Year break.

It was very exciting to sign off 2020 with the successful and timely completion of our Natural Disaster Program of works on Mt Spec Road. The overall scope of the project was set with an ambitious schedule, and with your patience and assistance the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the project contractor were able to complete these important works prior to the commencement of the 2020/2021 wet season.

With the 2021 year underway, I am now touching base to provide further information about remediation works to take place on Mt Spec Road this year.

Following investigations that took place in mid-2020, three areas on Mt Spec Road have been identified that will require further slope remediation outside of the disaster and recovery funded works. These areas are located at Culvert 57, Culvert 169 near Mountain Creek and Culvert 197. From Monday 8 February 2021, TMR will undertake some minor geotechnical works to assist with the design of slope remediation to these areas. I will shortly be sending a follow-up email with further details about these minor works. 

After the completion of these geotechnical works and design of the slope remediation project, TMR will begin consulting with the community to develop a plan to complete these remediation works. We understand that any works that take place on Mt Spec Road have impacts on the community and we want to provide everyone with ample opportunity to provide feedback on how we propose to undertake this project.

I will be in touch following the completion of these initial minor works on Mt Spec Road to engage with you further about the remediation project. Please do not hesitate to contact me on the details below should you require any further information. 

Kind regards

Meghan

Customer and Stakeholder Management (Northern) | North Queensland Region
Program Delivery And Operations | Infrastructure Management & Delivery Division |

Department of Transport and Main RoadsFloor 6 | Townsville Government Office Building | 445 Flinders Street | Townsville Qld 4810
PO Box 1089 | Townsville Qld 4810
P: 1800 625 648 | F: (07) 4421 8725
E: engagement.northern@tmr.qld.gov.au
W: www.tmr.qld.gov.au

Cyclone Season Preparation for 2021

Memories of the 2019 February inundation and the subsequent isolation of Paluma and communities to the west will be with us for years. These memories should prompt all of us living in the area to consider carefully how we prepare for this wet season.

The best way to start this years’ preparation is to visit the Queensland Government website www.getready.qld.gov.au. The site addresses preparation for a range of disasters that could affect Queensland. Cyclone, storm damage & fires are the most relevant to our area.  It also lists a number of disaster related apps. Another useful website is www.disaster.townsville.qld.gov.au

Cyclones & extreme rainfall events

The get ready website suggests being prepared for 3 days of self-sufficiency. This may be adequate for the lowlands, but could easily prove inadequate for Paluma to Hidden Valley communities.  If a high category cyclone crosses the coast anywhere near Townsville, Paluma to Hidden Valley problems are likely to be well down government priority lists, if they are not life threatening.

Plan for the worst – what if.

  1. All access roads to the area closed for seven (?) plus days
  2. Prolonged loss of the electricity grid supply.
  3. Eventual loss of landline, mobile phone & internet communication due to loss of power to the Telstra site.
  4. Damage to Townsville Water infrastructure resulting in unreliable water supply.
  5. Structural damage to your private residences forcing evacuation to temporary accommodation.

If you work through the three steps of the Have a Plan section of the get ready website you should be covered for most things. However they don’t mention backup generators & standby gas cooking equipment or the associated fuel & gas.

For anyone without internet access the following checklist covers some of the things to consider.

Clearing around you residence to remove anything with the potential of becoming an airborne projectile.

Insurance – Check currency & adequacy.

Basic supplies

  1. Enough food for the whole household including pets. If you have no generator backup for your refrigerator then stick mainly to non-perishable food. (dried or tinned)
  2. Adequate supplies of prescription medication plus cold & flu tablets, pain killers etc.
  3. Toiletries.
  4. Adequate clothing for everyone for the duration.
  5. Extra bed linen & towels.
  6. Sturdy gloves.
  7. Wet weather gear.
  8. Allow 3 litres of bottled water per person per day. Alternatively a small rainwater tank with water purification tablets from chemist/camping stores. Without power electrical appliances will not be able to boil water for safety.
  9. Important documents & a backup hard drive.
  10. Up to date first aid kit.
  11. Adequate generator fuel & gas for backup cooking equipment. Those on solar off grid systems should consider how much fuel they may need if the solar array is damaged.
  12. Spare batteries for torches/radios.
  13. Sturdy waterproof containers for food, clothes, medication, phones etc.

Communications

  1. The Telstra site has a backup generator but when the fuel runs out Telstra will be unable to refuel if access roads to Paluma are closed. There are also likely to be batteries in the Telstra building. So the phones & internet may continue to work for some time after a power failure & then shut down. Suggest it wise to make any important phone calls or emails as soon as possible after the event.

Hopefully the Townsville City Council & Telstra will be able to come to some agreement where TCC staff resident in Paluma can refuel the Telstra genset if necessary.

  • For landline phones a non 240v phone is best.
  • Have an alternate way of charging mobile phones & tablets without mains power.
  • Will your mobile phone work at the Star Valley or McClelland’s’ lookouts.
  • Battery radio.

Equipment

  1. Generator –tested/serviced.
  2. Backup gas cooking equipment (BBQ) if you only have an electric stove.
  3. Alternative lighting.

Evacuating your house due structural damage.

Extra things that should be considered for an evacuation kit include bedding (sleeping bags, inflatable mattresses & pillows), reading material & games, cash.

Rental properties.  If you have any form of rental property in the area, consider the need to advise potential tenants of the risk of isolation after extreme weather events.

If you are not going to be in the Paluma area.

  1.  Ensure anyone occupying your house is aware of the above suggestions.
  2. Clean out your fridge & freezer
  3. Consider supplying a neighbour with a key & your contact details so they can access your property to check for damage & report to you.

Charlie Allen
Mt Spec SES

Rainforest Inn is Closed until 30 January 2021

Paluma residents, visitors and holiday-makers please note that the Rainforest Inn at Paluma will be closed over the period 30 December 2020 to 30 January 2021.

This means that with the exception of the vending machine (for snacks) at the Paluma Education and Environmental Centre (PEEC) there are no places or facilities to buy food, drinks or other supplies whilst visiting the village. Please bring your supplies with you to avoid disappointment (and being hungry!).