Council has a Five Year Works Implementation Program and Annual Works Program for Roadworks. Council’s Engineering Department, through its Design Office and Construction Workforce, aims to complete annual jobs such as Road Construction, Drainage jobs, Installation of Roundabouts, Footpath and Bikeway Construction to mention a few.
Any enquiries with regard to construction jobs should be directed to Council’s Engineering Division on (07) 4783 9920.
Council has 173km of kerbing and channelling in the Urban areas of the Shire. An additional 700m of kerbing and channelling is constructed (on average) each year.
Council has large underground drainage systems throughout Ayr, Home Hill and Giru.
A number of gates and grids exist on Council’s road network. Council’s Local Law No 24 covers gates and grids.
The overall jurisdiction for main highways and three state roads within the Burdekin are the responsibility of Queensland Department of Main Roads (Northern District) with its main office situated in Townsville (PH. (07) 4720 7200).
However, through negotiation with the Department of Main Roads, Council is responsible for the maintenance of a number of Main Roads within the Burdekin Shire under the Road Maintenance Performance Contract (RMPC).
These roads are the Bruce Highway (sections between Home and Brandon), 85km of Dalbeg Road, 32km of Kirknie Road and 50km of Ravenswood Road. In accordance with the contractual agreement, Council carries out works such as road, drainage and vegetation maintenance on these roads and manages reimbursement of such works from the department on a monthly basis.
Council also tenders for minor works and capital works projects on declared roads by way of open tender and agreed price performance contracts.
Other projects such as Blackspot and Transport Infrastructure subsidies are negotiated annually with the Department of Main Roads for the purpose of funding possible problem areas throughout the Shire. Other Main Roads funded programs for roads and infrastructure are managed by the shire on behalf of the department with the aim to improving Council's road and drainage network.
Council aims to construct about 600 metres of footpaths and bikeways each year through a developing master plan for bikeways and footpaths in each of the urban areas.
Council encourages residents to take pride in their town and assist by mowing and maintaining their footpath areas. Keeping footpaths clean and tidy is a service to neighbours and contributes towards a tidy presentation of the Burdekin Shire to visitors. Residents should contact Council Environmental Health Department on 4783 9870 prior to planting trees in the street.
Before carrying out any works on Council footpaths (e.g. tree planting, installing a driveway, underground electricity or pipe under the road), residents should contact Council to ascertain the location of any Council Services e.g. water mains or underground drainage pipes.
Residents should also be aware of other services such as Telstra Cables or underground electricity and should contact Dial Before You Dig on 1100 prior to the commencement of any excavation.
Fees for carrying out work on road reservations change from year to year and can be accessed in Council’s Fees and Charges.Before installing a driveway or access to a property, an application form must be made to Council so that the levels can be set for drainage purposes. If the driveway is a second access a fee applies.
Once the application form is submitted, Council’s Design Office will inspect the area prior to the works being carried out so that the driveway can be installed at the correct level for drainage etc.
Installation of underground electricity on Council’s Road Reserve requires an application to be submitted to Council with a map showing the proposed location of the cable. For safety reasons a number of conditions (outlined on the application form) are enforced.
Installation of underground pipes (usually for irrigation proposes) on Council’s Road Reserve requires an application to be submitted to Council with a map showing the proposed location of the pipe. If the pipe is to be installed under a bitumen road the applicant is responsible for the cost of bitumen reinstatement. Arrangements for bitumen reinstatement can be made at the time the application is submitted by completing a private works form.
Requests from residents and businesses for the installation of new street lighting or for street lighting upgrades should be made in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, Burdekin Shire Council, P.O. Box 974, AYR. Q.4807.
Street lighting is maintained by Ergon Energy and any broken or malfunctioning street lights should be reported directly to Ergon by phoning 13 10 46.