Mareeba Shire Council

19/10/2026

🚴‍♀️20 Years of the Cardiac Challenge ❤️

More than 300 cyclists took part in the 20th anniversary Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge last month, riding over 300km from Cairns to Cooktown to raise funds for better cardiac services across Far North Queensland.

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation received support through Mareeba Shire Council’s Community Partnerships Program (CPP), to help deliver this iconic event.

The event brings visitors to the Mareeba Shire, supports local businesses, promotes healthy lifestyles, and showcases our region to participants from across Australia.

Council is proud to support community organisations making a positive difference in the Mareeba Shire.

Learn more about CPP: https://ow.ly/bihj50ZXqXo

Mareeba Shire Council
Contact: 1300 308 461 or [email protected]

19/10/2026

A free morning tea is happening this Friday at the Dimbulah Community Centre to celebrate Queensland Seniors Month. ☕️ 🥪 🌻
Make sure to register by this Wednesday!

Have you booked your attendance ? Closes on Wednesday 21st October 3pm.

19/10/2026

It was a great time at the Dinner and Disaster movie night as part of Get Ready Queensland at the Mareeba Drive In!

Thank you to all of the services who came out to help the community get ready for the upcoming disaster season and thank you to the wonderful team at the Mareeba Drive In.

Take the time to understand the severe weather that may affect where you live, work, move and play.

Whether you have lived in the same suburb your entire life, or have just moved to the area, it’s important to learn about the risk of extreme weather.

⛈️ Jump on to our dashboard and be sure to favourite the page because if you’re faced with a severe weather event, you want to be prepared. https://ow.ly/3vVk50XeK2I
🔥 Sign up to the early warning network to get alerts about emergencies: https://ow.ly/4TSW50XeK2J
🌀 Learn more on the Get Ready Queensland website: https://ow.ly/bEM850XeK2F

Resources for parents and children
📖 Koko the Cockatoo activity book https://ow.ly/kqHS50XeK2G
🐦 🐸 Birdie's Tree Story Books https://ow.ly/RQhp50XeK2K

This event was supported by the Queensland Government through Get Ready Queensland to get the community ready for disaster season.

State Emergency Service - Far Northern Region - Queensland Fire Department - Queensland Reconstruction Authority - Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) - NBN Australia - Mareeba Community Centre

19/10/2026

Join Visit Mareeba Shire for a relaxed evening at the iconic Mareeba Drive-In as part of the 2026 Queensland Information Centres Association Conference.

This is a free networking event for Mareeba Shire Tourism partners, offering a valuable opportunity to connect with Visitor Information Centre staff from across Queensland, showcase your business and build awareness of Mareeba Shire as a destination.

It’s also a great chance to network with other local tourism operators and strengthen industry connections across the region.

This event forms part of the 2026 QICA Conference program and aims to increase awareness and knowledge of Mareeba Shire among Visitor Information Centre professionals from across Queensland - so come along and showcase your business to industry professionals across Australia!

📍 Mareeba Drive-In
📅 Wednesday, 28 October 2026
⏰ 6:00pm - 8:30pm

All welcome but registrations essential - RSVP HERE - https://ow.ly/YOsn50ZTNjy

18/10/2026

We're Hiring! Compliance Investigation Officer
The Compliance Investigation Officer implements building and planning compliance, Council’s Local Laws and Subordinate Local Laws. The position provides advisory services to ensure compliance with legislative requirements which involves communicating and engaging with customers and taking or recommending appropriate action on behalf of Council.

Applications close: Sunday, 1 November 2026
👉 For further information and to apply, please visit: https://mareeba-shire-council-careers-vacancies.applynow.net.au/jobs/M1343102026

Let's shape Mareeba Shire's future, together.

18/10/2026

Free Queensland Government-funded business short courses

University of the Sunshine Coast in collaboration with the Queensland Government, is offering a suite of free business short courses for small and family businesses across the state.

The first in-person location is Cairns with workshops delivered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 20 October to 25 November 2026.

More courses and locations will be announced soon.
Find out more at: www.unisc.edu.au/bsc

18/10/2026

🐦🌳 Get Ready with Birdie’s Tree Storytime!

Join us for a morning of stories and fun with Birdie and Mr Frog, as part of Get Ready Queensland

Birdie’s Tree storybooks help little ones (and their grown-ups) learn what to do when storms, floods, cyclones and other severe weather come our way.

It’s a gentle, friendly way to start the conversation about being prepared.

📅 Wednesday, 14 October 2026
⏰ 10am to 12pm
📍 Mareeba Library
📞 Call 4086 4622

📅 Monday, 19 October 2026
⏰ 10am to 12pm
📍 Kuranda Library
📞 Call 4093 9185

✅ Registration required.
You can book your spot by:
📞 Call us
🏛️ Or visit your local library

Bring the kids, bring a friend, and come and get ready with us! 🐸

17/10/2026

🎨 NEW Creative Space Activation Grant Program Launches! 🎭

Have a creative idea for a community hall, vacant shop, outdoor space or workshop venue?

The new Creative Space Activation Grant Program offers up to $1,000 for local artists, creatives, community groups and cultural organisations to activate spaces across Mareeba Shire with arts, culture and heritage projects.

From temporary exhibitions and workshops to live music, theatre and community art activities, we want to see creative ideas that bring people together and add vibrancy to our towns.
✅ Pop-up exhibitions
✅ Creative workshops
✅ Artist studios and maker spaces
✅ Live music and theatre performances
✅ Community arts activities

📍 Eligible town centres include Mareeba, Kuranda, Dimbulah, Mt Molloy, Julatten, Chillagoe and Irvinebank.

📅 Applications open 1 October 2026
📅 Applications close: 5pm, 27 May 2027 (or earlier if funds are fully allocated)

Projects must be funded and completed by 22 October 2027.

📖 For more information please visit: https://msc.qld.gov.au/community/grants-sponsorship-and-letters-of-support/regional-arts-development-fund-radf/

📞Questions? Please call the RADF Liaison Officer on 1300 308 461

This program is delivered through Mareeba Shire Council's Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), a partnership between the Queensland Government and Mareeba Shire Council supporting local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

17/10/2026

STAY INFORMED - Irvinebank, Watsonville and Silver Valley (near Atherton) - fire as at 10:46am Saturday, 17 October 2026

For all current warnings, updates and mapping, go to https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/Current-Incidents.

STAY INFORMED - Irvinebank, Watsonville and Silver Valley (near Atherton) - fire as at 10:46am Saturday, 17 October 2026

Warning level: ADVICE

Warning area: Irvinebank, Watsonville and Silver Valley

A fire is burning between Silver Valley Road and Herberton Petford Road. This fire could burn for days.

Stay informed because the situation could change.

What you should do:

- Check for warning updates often and listen to your local radio station.
- Decide what you will do if the bushfire gets closer.
- If the smoke is thick where you are, stay inside and close windows and doors.
- If you need medication to help you breathe keep it close. Smoke can make it hard to breathe.
- Do not fly drones around the fire as they affect firefighting.
- If you are in danger, call Triple Zero (000) now.

Impacts:

- No properties are at risk now, but this could change.
- Some roads may be closed or impacted by smoke. It could be hard to see. You may need to drive a different way.

What firefighters are doing:

- Firefighters are working to control the fire.
- Aircraft and heavy machinery are helping ground crews.
- Backburning is being done to help control the fire.

More information:

- For all fire warnings, visit the Qld Fire website. https://www.fire.qld.gov.au/Current-Incidents.
- Follow Queensland Fire Department on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/qldfiredepartment.
- For road closures, visit the QLD Traffic website. https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ or call 13 19 40.
- For local information visit your Council’s Local Disaster Dashboard.
- For live air quality data visit the Department of Environment and Science website. https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/air-quality/.
- If you are worried about your health call your doctor or 13 HEALTH (13 432 584).
- Natural disasters can affect your mental health. If you need help contact:
- Lifeline. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ on 13 11 14.
- Beyond Blue. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ on 1300 224 636.
- Kids Helpline. https://kidshelpline.com.au/ on 1800 551 800.
- If you need translation, call TIS National on 131 450.
- Learn how to get ready for a bushfire on the Qld Fire website. https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/dealing-disasters/disaster-types/bushfires - Prepare - Bushfire.

Updates will be issued if the situation changes.

This warning is from the Queensland Fire Department.

17/10/2026

🚧Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will undertake routine bridge inspections on various bridges on the state-controlled road network.

These works are a part of TMR’s regular inspection program to ensure the continued safety and reliability of bridges on the state-controlled road network.

Inspections will be carried out between 6am and 6pm, weather and construction conditions permitting.

The following bridge operates as a single-lane structure and will require a temporary full closure:
McLeod River bridge, Mulligan Highway (Mount Molloy – Lakeland) on 18 and 19 October 2026.

During the closure, traffic will be let through once in each direction every hour, on the hour between 8am and 5pm.

School buses and emergency service vehicles will be provided access if required.

For the safety of road users and maintenance crews, changed traffic conditions will be in place including temporary speed limit reductions and a full closure under coordination of traffic controllers or traffic signals while the inspections are carried out.

Road users should expect delays and prepare their journey accordingly.

Variable Message Signs (VMS) will be in place on the approaches to the work site to ensure road users are aware of the changed traffic conditions.

Changes in dates due to poor weather will be posted on the VMS.