Summary of Ordinary Council Meeting Thursday 22 January 2026

Deputation from the Malanda Show Society

Greg English, President and Colleen McLucas, Senior Vice President & Cattle Yard Coordinator of the Malanda Show Society attended the meeting to discuss matters at the Malanda Showgrounds, including the cattle yards roof and a proposed portable site office.

Mayoral Minute

The Mayor noted the historical challenges in meeting the impacts of storm water and run-off, and as the region continues to grow, there are increasing pressures on drainage infrastructure. He has requested the CEO conduct a review of the functionality of critical drainage infrastructure and bring a costed drainage servicing proposal to Council’s budget deliberations for 26/27. The Mayor also reminded the community to be prepared for the summer season, with more monsoonal weather expected over the coming days

CEO Report

The CEO’s report for January acknowledged the great efforts of the many TRC staff working and on call over the Christmas and New Year break, for example operating refuse centres, undertaking water and sewerage monitoring, and responding to callouts to remove fallen trees. The CEO thanked staff for continued provision of these critical services through the shutdown and on public holidays. The CEO also noted that work on the 26/27 budget is well underway across the organisation, and finally, highlighted that registrations for the popular free Rural Active program were filling quickly but some places are still available (register through the TRC website to avoid disappointment). Registrations for the popular free Rural Active Hydrotherapy program will also be opening soon.

Land Tenure – Mount Garnet Waste Transfer Station

Council approved a proposed project to regularise the land tenure and rectify historical tenure irregularities and any other compliance issues in relation to the operation of the Mount Garnet Waste Transfer Station.

Reserve Boundary Amendment – Halloran’s Hill

It was decided that the Department of Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development be advised that Council does not have any objections to a requested reserve boundary amendment.

Change of Meeting Date – April Ordinary Council Meeting

Council resolved to reschedule the ordinary meeting due to be held on 23 April 2026 to 30 April 2026.

Development Permit for reconfiguring lots on Atherton Road, Dalip Road and Peluchetti Road

Council conditionally approved a Development Permit for reconfiguring a Lot (5 lots into 5 lots) and access easement on land described as Lot 1 on RP726496, Lot 2 on RP715411, Lot 3 on RP741737, Lot 834 on N157426, and Lot 849 on NR1378 situated at Malanda, Atherton Road, Dalip Road and Peluchetti Road, Atherton.

Draft Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2025 – TRC Submission

Council noted the TRC submission to the Draft Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2025 and moved that a formal invitation be extended to Deputy Premier, to showcase our region and launch the final Far North Queensland Regional Plan from the Tablelands. The submission raised six key focus areas: Updating the growth assumptions to reflect genuine growth drivers, recognising Atherton as the primary inland growth area, commitment to upgrading the Palmerston Highway, Tablelands long term water security, recognising the Tablelands as an agricultural hub of Australian significance and, reflecting the regional significance of the Atherton hospital.

Revised TRC Asset Management Policy

Council resolved to adopt the revised TRC Asset Management Policy. The revised policy strengthens TRC’s commitment to the provision, management, and disposal of assets at optimal whole of life costs while meeting the defined levels of service. The policy guides the implementation of consistent asset management in compliance with regulatory requirements.

Community facility asset criticality methodology

Council endorsed the implementation of the community facility asset criticality methodology for asset and maintenance management purposes. The methodology assists with evaluating each asset’s importance to the organisation and community with focus on factors such as safety, regulatory impact, utilisation, identified surpluses, and alignment to the Strategy.

Capital projects Report – December 2025

Council received and noted the Capital Projects Report – December 2025, outlining project status and financial position within the 2025/26 capital program.

Finance Report – November 2025

Council received the monthly Finance Report. Year to date operating revenue is over budget due grant payment for disaster recovery being received earlier than forecast, and operating expenditure budget is slightly over by around 1% because of disaster recovery works commencing earlier than anticipated. This is a positive result for the first 6 months and as the year progresses operational activities are expected to align with budget expectations. Council supported reallocation of underspent operational funds of $185,000 to the capital budget, for the replacement of the Audio-Visual equipment in the Disaster Coordination Centre. This does not result in an overall increase to Council’s budget. Council also endorsed changes to the TRC Procurement Policy following updates to the Local Government Regulation 2012, which came into effect 19 December 2025.

Q2 Quarterly performance report and unconfirmed Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee minutes

Council received and noted the Q2 Performance Report and the unconfirmed minutes of the Audit, Risk & Improvement

Committee meeting held on 15 December 2025 included and published with the agenda papers.

Notice of Motion – Letter of support ‘Frith Falls’

Council accepted and endorsed the Letter of Support for the proposed naming of the permanent waterfall located on a registered Wildlife Sanctuary near Topaz as “Frith Falls”, in recognition of the late Dr Dawn W. Frith PhD, OAM.

Priors Creek Development — Lot 3 Carpark Construction

Council moved to award a contract variation to Northern Civil Earthworks Pty Ltd trading as Terranovus Civil to the value of $1,226,205 excluding GST to include the construction of a carpark on Lot 3 Development Plan with lighting, refurbishment of the existing Railway Lane Carpark with lighting, and upgrade Vernon Street (south) footpath and kerb and channel to meet current design standards.

Asset Divestment Process and Investigation Next Steps

Council moved to support the undertaking of due diligence processes as part of investigating potential divestment options for 44 community facility assets, as the next step in TRC’s Community asset divestment process. Officers will also commence engagement with existing users of the facilities and will work with all parties to ensure the best outcomes for both community and ratepayers.

In addition to nominating the 44 assets for investigation, Council resolved to divest some community assets that have been under consideration for some time (TRC’s Social Housing portfolio by transfer to Tablelands Community Housing Association Inc, and community assets located at Lions Park (excluding the Atherton Lions storage shed)) and to apply to relinquish TRC’s trusteeship over of the camping reserve on which the Kirrama Range Forestry Hut is located (and to grant consent to James Cook University’s (JCU’s) application to surrender its permit to occupy the area), as well as divesting the Atherton Community Centre which is at end of life and occupies land that can be better utilised for future developments..

Council will continue to work through the asset divestment process to achieve outcomes that:

Bring benefits to whole community;
Reduce depreciation, insurance premiums and other operational costs to improve and strengthen Council’s financial sustainability;
Encourage assets to be shared among multiple users and groups to increase utilisation rates;
Keep community informed of the ongoing asset divestment process; and
Support affected user groups during and after implementation of Council’s decisions.

Ootann Road Upgrade, Stage 2 (Contract T-TRC2023-21)

Council delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer to do all things necessary to resolve the dispute with Gunther Civil Pty Ltd regarding disputed claims in relation to the Ootann Road upgrade, stage 2, including review of the FY 25/26 budget allocation for this project.

Social Housing – Extension of Management Agreement

Council approved to extend the term of the Housing Management Agreement between TRC and Tablelands Community Housing Association Incorporated to manage TRC’s social housing tenancies, maintenance and reporting for a further 12 months until 31 March 2027.

Agendas, Minutes & Next Meetings

Next Meeting
The next Ordinary Council Meeting will be held at 9am on Thursday, 26 February, 2026 at the Coordination Centre, Atherton. Meetings are live streamed and recorded.