Healthy infrastructure upgrades

Cairns Regional council have recently been engaging in infrastructure upgrades focusing on fostering healthy habits in the community.

A $2.9 million upgrade of Endeavour, one of the region’s most heavily used sporting venues, is nearing completion just in time for the 2,500 players eagerly awaiting the first game of the soccer season.

Fields were compacted, levelled and re-grassed to produce an improved playing experience for soccer and cricket participants.

The turf has been establishing well, with an additional 1.8 hectares of playing field space created at Endeavour Park.

The upgrade also includes new cricket club amenities, a new parking area for around 200 vehicles, improved pedestrian connections including a pedestrian crossing to Behan Street, boundary fencing and bollards, underground electrical works to allow for future field lighting and a sealed access road along the western boundary.

Cricketers will also benefit from new turf, practice wickets and a brand new clubhouse to be ready for the 2014-15 season.

The Endeavour Park sporting precinct upgrade is a joint initiative of Cairns Regional Council and the Queensland Government.

Additionally the first of two bridges that will complete a section of bicycle path known as the Southern Cycleway has been installed.

A 200-tonne crane lifted the locally fabricated, 40 metre bridge into place across Moody Creek, at the end of Spence Street.

“We are pleased that arrangements were able to be made with a local business to complete the two bridges, despite it going into liquidation,” Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said.

The bridge is of steel construction and includes composite fibre joists and recycled plastic decking.

Cairns Regional Council and the Queensland Government through its Active Towns program jointly funded the $2.8 million project.

The Southern Cycleway project is part of Cairns Regional Council’s Cycling and Walking Strategy, which ultimately aims to provide a bicycle network from Gordonvale to Palm Cove.