Thanks to the Kalpowar Community Hall Committee for hosting our first meeting for the year last Friday.
We have now moved our meetings back to every 2nd Friday of the month. Hopefully this does not inconvenience you. We may have had a break from meetings in January, but the work has not stopped we have so many great things happening along the trail.
WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED:
1. Funding – Over the past few months we have gone gang-busters in applying for funding opportunities that will assist us improve the trail. GOOD NEWS: We are grateful to Calliope Bendigo Bank for approving $18k funding to install storyboards and barricading through Barrimoon to Golembil. We hope to have these installed by May in time for the event.
We have also applied to other funding bodies to install all-access toilet facilities at Golembil & Mt Debateable Sidings; resurface a very difficult section of the trail between Monto and Mulgildie; and funding for Women and Girls to try a bike. How great if we could offer an opportunity to try out BBIRT! Our eyes are also on applying to the Gambling Fund for Shelter Sheds in the next round.
2. Events – Just a reminder of our EPIC 4-day Adventure Ride through the tunnels section of the trail Barrimoon
to Golembil. Bicycle Qld have partnered with BBIRT. Visit Bicycle Qld website to purchase tickets or find out
more: BOYNE BURNETT INLAND RAIL TRAIL WEEKEND – Bicycle Queensland (bq.org.au). Thanks to our patron
cr. Desley O’Grady for your continuing passion to seeing this eventuate. Thanks also to all of our sponsors.
3. DTMR Visit – Last week members from the Corridor Management Team visited us to see how things are
progressing on BBIRT. We visited the team at Gayndah and reviewed how well the shared relationship with
the Youth Group is progressing. Rail Trails are shared spaces with the community. Thank you cr. Dael Giddins for all your efforts. We met with the contractor on the Slab Creek Project. This is the first bridge we have deck and railed and WOW is it looking great. This project is due to complete mid-February. Looking forward
to riding it! The guys were impressed with the new all access surface at Barrimoon through Tunnel 6 and liked
to see how Golembil siding is coming along with all the recent slashing & mowing. The trees planted by Rotary
Club of Gladstone Midday are coming along perfectly. Generally, we took the opportunity to point out some
key areas needing improvement.
WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON:
1. Barrimoon Siding Accessibility Section – We have work commencing this week laying a concrete slab and installing the all-access composting toilet block. We will also be installing a tank to supply water to the siding.
In conjunction with this, we will be progressing with our story boards and barricading to be ready for the event
in May.
2. Slab Creek Bridge Restoration Project – We have now initiated work on restoration of the Slab Creek Bridge. Mick Colyer Vice President will be overseeing this project with our contractor. DTMR have paid us the funds and we are working closely with our contractor Mark Postle to have these works underway over the Xmas Period. He has ordered materials and arranged labour to commence over the coming month. Completion of
this project is set for 26 January 2024 Australia Day!
3. Volunteer Management – To improve our collation of volunteer hours, we have starting working with a
program that volunteers can lodge their hours specific to certain projects or types of work so that they are
captured for future reporting. The program is working well. We are also using another program to assist us
recruit and train our volunteers linked through our website. Initial tests have been positive so we are testing
the process out with our Event Volunteers. If you are interested in helping us out in any way, please call me
on 0447 230 568 any time. More hands make light work!
WHAT WE PLAN TO DO:
1. Philpott Bridge – We have been asked by DTMR to submit estimates for high priority bridges and we received
word back, that pending the successful completion of Slab Creek Bridge, we could source quotes to upgrade
Philpott Bridge. An upgrade to this bridge will save travellers having to take lengthy detours to get through a difficult gully. We still have Kalpowar Bridge as a high priority in the near future. Tenders will be sent out to contractors in the short term.
2. Improving communication – Another step in the right direction. We are privileged to have Lyndal Slater our
previous secretary re-join us to assist in taking minutes at our general and management meetings. The job of
the secretary is a huge role, so by delegating some jobs out to others willing to take on smaller jobs it will
ensure we can communicate to our members within the week of our general meetings. This will also help us plan all the jobs we need to do more effectively and on time in the future.
3. Memberships – We now have memberships for children for $5.50. This has been great for members wanting
to attend events more than anything. We are also reviewing all our current members including business,
individuals, in-kind and reciprocal memberships so we can increase our membership base. We want to promote our businesses online across our website and through our marketing.
We look forward to our next meeting and updating you on some of the projects we are so close to finishing!
Chat again in March.
Vicki Mackay
