The township of Cardwell was the first point of European settlement north of Bowen, established in 1864 and initially the main seaport for North Queensland. In 1866 the province of Cardwell was proclaimed and five councillors appointed, although no records of meetings exist. Cardwell was the original focus of the local government authority from 1884 when the Cardwell Divisional Board was proclaimed. The board had six member in two divisions which increased to three in 1887. James Thorn Senior was the first chairman of the Cardwell Divisional Board in 1884, while Peter Smith was the Divisional Board’s last Chairman in 1902.

The operations of the local authority were based in the township of Cardwell until 1902 when the Divisional Board became the Cardwell Shire Council. Council meetings continued to occur in Cardwell until 1929 when Council relocated to Tully following the growth in population of that township as a result of the establishment of the Tully sugar mill in 1924. The first Cardwell Shire Council meeting held in Tully occurred on the 27th of June 1929.

In 1930 a new office building in Tully was occupied by the Cardwell Shire Council, this is now the Tully Library. The building that was used as the main administrative centre for Cardwell Shire Council in Tully was opened in 1978. The last Council consisted of 10 Councillors, a Mayor elected at large and three Councillors elected from three divisions.

Many distinguished citizens of the district have served as Councillors on the Cardwell Shire Council. The first Chairman of the Cardwell Shire Council was Johan Hubinger, who served as Chairman between 1903 and 1904. The last Mayor of the Cardwell Shire Council will be Giuseppe Galeano, Known as Joe, who served as Mayor from 2004 and will complete his term on the 15th of March, 2008.

The first ever woman elected to the Cardwell Shire Council was Mrs Gladys Henry, who served as a Councillor from 1976 to 1982. The first and only woman elected as Chairman of Cardwell Shire Council, before they became known as mayors, was Mrs Atte Raccanello, who server between 1985 and 1991.

The Cardwell Shire Council has a tremendously proud history of achievement over its 106 years as a shire council, in addition to its 18 years as a divisional board and 18 years as a provincial entity. In all, 142 years of local government will have come to an end on the 15th of March, 2008.

If you wish to attend and in order to cater appropriately, please contact Mrs Lauran Baillie on 4043 9127.

Council seeks Expressions of Interest from residents of Tully Heads and Hull Heads who may wish to represent their community by sitting on the Technical Working Group for that Plan. Community members on the Technical Working Group should be prepared to provide feedback to community groups on the progress of the SEMP plan.

Anyone interested should write to Council highlighting what personal qualities they can bring to the Committee and the process. Expressions of interest, addressed to the CEO should be received by COB, 21 February 2008.

Chairperson of the SEMP Steering Committee, Mayor Joe Galeano said, “We are happy to have appointed Consultants with a proven record in completing this type of project, and who have worked well with past Cardwell Shire Committees.”

“The Plan, which will be done in consultation with the Community and the Environmental Protection Agency, will inform us about the causes of erosion along the Tully Heads and Hull Heads foreshore, and make recommendations on how to fix it,” he said.

The Project Manager, Paul Devine said, “The Steering Committee will soon hold its first meeting, and State Government departments and Community groups have been asked to nominate representatives for the Technical Reference Group.

Elsewhere in this paper Council has called for Expressions of Interest for Community members who wish to become involved in the process by joining the Technical Working Group.

The Consultants have already begun the process of collecting background data and will make a visit to the site in March.

The SEMP Study is expected to be completed by October 2008 with the ‘draft’ Plan available for perusal by the general public by August 2008.”

Cardwell Shire won’t exist in its present form after the 15 March 2008 so now is a good time to acknowledge this particular group of residents for their valuable contribution to the ongoing development of the Shire and its many successes and achievements over the years”, Mayor Galeano said.

In order to participate, an application form must be completed and lodged with Council. If you wish to obtain an application form please contact Ms Jo Cooksley on 4043 9125 or visit the Civic Centre, 38 – 40 Bryant Street, Tully.

On behalf of the North Queensland Sports Foundation, Cardwell Shire Council is calling nominations for the Commander Centre North Queensland Sportstar Awards being hosted by Hinchinbrook Shire Council in Ingham on Saturday, 1 March 2008.

The three categories being judged are:

1. Senior (18 years and over) – winner receives $2,000
2. Junior (must be under the age of 18 during the year in question, ie. must still be 17 on the 31st December 2007) – winner receives $1,000
3. Service to North Queensland Sport – winner receives a track suit top and special gift.

Applications are available from the Council Chambers Reception Desk, Libraries and from above link and must be lodged with Council no later than Friday, 8 February 2007.

For further information, please contact Ms Jo Cooksley on 40 439 125 or email csc@csc.qld.gov.au

Kevin Wormald
A/g Chief Executive Officer

The Council office will close at 3.00pm on Friday, 21st December and re-open at 8.30am on Wednesday 2nd January 2008. Council’s Outside operations will also shut-down from 3.00pm on Friday, 21st December and recommence at 7.00am on Wednesday, 2nd January 2008.

Emergency Contacts

• Water/Sewerage – 0427 656 645
• Health and Animal Enquiries – 0418 727 511
• Roads and Fallen Trees – 0408 062 392
• Cardwell – 0437 447 899

If Council staff cannot be contacted on the Emergency numbers listed, please leave a message, or alternatively Senior Officers of Council can be contacted on the numbers listed under the Cardwell Shire Council in the Cairns Regional Directory White Pages Section at Page 48 under the “After Hours Residential Section”.

Dog Pound
The Pound is situated at 63 Tully-Mission Beach Road for delivery of privately impounded dogs or release of impounded dogs. The Caretaker must be contacted prior to any visit on 40682739.

Garbage Collection
No disruption – collection as per normal service days.

Transfer Station Operating Hours

Tully
Mon – Fri 8.00am – 5.00pm
Sat 1.00pm – 5.00pm
Sun & Public Holidays 1.00pm – 6.00pm

Cardwell
Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri & Sat 10.00am – 5.00pm
Wed CLOSED
Sun & Public Holidays 7.00am – 12.00pm

Hull Heads
Mon & Sat 1.00pm – 5.00pm
Wed, Fri, Sun & Public Holidays 8.00am – 12.00pm
Tue & Thur CLOSED

Wongaling / South Mission Beach
Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri & Sat 10.00am – 5.00pm
Wed CLOSED
Sun & Public Holidays 7.00am – 12.00pm

Murray Upper
Mon & Sat 8.00am – 12.00pm
Wed, Fri, Sun & Public Holidays 1.00pm – 5.00pm
Tues & Thur CLOSED

NOTE: ALL TRANSFER STATIONS CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Libraries

Tully Dorothy Jones Library
Closed from 2.30pm Friday 21 December
Re-open Wednesday 2 January 2008 at 1.00pm

Wongaling Beach
Closed from 4.30pm Thursday 20 December
Re-open Thursday 3 January 2008 at 10.00am

Cardwell JC Hubinger Memorial Library
Closed from 4.30pm Thursday 20 December
Re-open Wednesday 2 January 2008 at 10.00am

Swimming Pools
Tully
Closed Christmas Day. Open all other days as per normal hours.

Cardwell
Closed Christmas Day. Open all other days as per normal hours.

MAYOR JOE GALEANO, COUNCILLORS AND STAFF OF CARDWELL SHIRE COUNCIL WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

To be eligible for subsidy, applications for connection of existing properties to sewerage including a plan of the design, must be submitted by the ratepayer’s licensed drainage contractor to the respective Councils for approval prior to the end of December 2007, and the connections completed with “as constructed” plans submitted and the works ready for a final inspection prior to the close of business on Friday, 29 February 2008.

There will be no further extensions to this deadline.

To enable families to enjoy the beach and foreshore on New Year’s Day the use of glass containers in this area is strongly discouraged.