St Helens Beach No Longer Busting For Comfort

No one should have to drive 200km for a toilet, but Councillor Alison Jones said that’s exactly what would happen when the St Helens Beach community hosted events.

“Someone would have to drive into town to the hire company, pick one up and then return it after the event,” she said.

The Community Grants committee awarded a $7,350 grant for the purchase of a mobile toilet. It was one of 27 grants, with the combined value of $176,601, to be approved as part of this round of Community Grants.

“Having this mobile toilet will also allow the group to assist other community groups in the vicinity of St Helens Beach – like Calen, Kolijo, Mt Ossa and Pindi Pindi – when they hold events,” Cr Jones said.

Cr Jones said it was also great to see funds awarded to the Breakaway Riders Club of Mackay to purchase first aid and safety equipment.

“The committee approved $4072 to allow the club to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) and a satellite phone,” she said.

“Most of the horse rides and camps the club conducts are isolated and out of standard mobile phone reception range.

“The rides also cover rough terrain that is inaccessible for motorised vehicles, so having this equipment will make a huge difference in an emergency.”

As covered in last week’s edition, three local cycling groups were also awarded a $30,000 grant from council to progress their dream of building a multisport cycling complex in Mackay.

Also receiving funding this round were:

• Mackay and District Italian Assoc Inc - $7500 towards the Italian Festival

• Mackay Contract Bridge Club Inc - $7055 to renovate the disability and female clubhouse toilets

• Mackay Swimming Academy Inc - $3500 towards the 49th Annual Great Barrier Reef Swimming Carnival

• Mackay Art Society - $26,916.73 towards design and drafting for a staged plan for extensions and improved accessibility

• Mackay Wanderers Football Club - $2000 towards upgrading an irrigation system

• QCWA Calen Branch - $1400 towards crusher dust for the parking area of the hall

• CatholicCare Central Queensland - $1500 towards venue hire for the School Savvy CQ program

• Walkerston Cricket Club Inc - $965.87 towards a whipper snipper and blower

• 122 Army Cadet Unit - $10,242.62 to purchase a twin axle galvanised trailer

• Football Queensland Limited - $10,900.00 for an electric buggy

• Western Suburbs Rugby League Football Club - $30,000 towards the development of a Master Plan to support the development of a multi-purpose sporting facility in the Pioneer Valley  

• North Mackay Saints AFC Club - $3182 towards the purchase of goal post pads

• Sugarshed Road Horse Sports Club Inc - $5315.20 for irrigation of the dressage arena and top-dressing of the main arena at Sugarshed Road.

• Mackay Advocacy Inc - $5152 to purchase a photocopier/printer/scanner

• Phoenix Place Inc - $5673.60 to purchase technology and computer equipment to begin a capacity-building tech program for participants who have disability or mental illness

• Mackay Volleyball Mavens Inc - $3750 towards a social tournament to be held at PCYC, sending a team to the Senior State Championships at the Gold Coast, purchase of equipment for training and social events and assistance with member development

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