Diviner intervention
QUEENS Garden’s aviary is set to undergo a major rejuvenation with Townsville City Council to push forward with a master plan.
It will look at options such as a cafe, the possible relocation of the aviary on the grounds and an overall rejuvenation to establish the historic gardens as a more popular destination.
A total of $ 50,000 will be allocated towards the investigation, design and master plan.
Infrastructure Services Committee chairman Cr Mark Molachino said the aviary was a much- loved community facility.
“It’s clear that the current structure was in dire need of an overhaul but this master plan is bigger than that – it looks at the opportunities that extend beyond just the aviary itself,” he said.
“This is an exciting opportunity to rethink the facility and how the community uses it and we’re happy to have community and stakeholder input.”
It comes after a number of birds had been eaten by snakes with the council having to temporarily move them to wildlife carers.
The facility has been closed since May.
The proposal will now be tabled at council’s meeting later this month for approval. FOR Roman Dubinchak, Townsville’s water woes were a reason to move north.
Mr Dubinchak had run his own bore drilling business in Hervey Bay for about three years when he learnt of Townsville’s dwindling dam level.
“I used to do work out west a couple of months a year drilling for water but I never realised how bad the drought had been in Townsville until last year,” he said.
“I also found out the existing companies often have a six- month waiting list. It was sort of about going where the work is.”
Ross River Dam levels are sitting at 21 per cent, with pumping from the Burdekin Falls Dam set to start again once they drop to 15 per cent.
Mr Dubinchak, who made the move in October last year, said underground reservoirs could be Townsville’s solution to current water issues.
“In some suburbs like Kirwan and Annandale there’s a large amount of water underground,” he said.
“With the bores I’m doing in Townsville, they’re doing anywhere from half a litre to three litres of water a second. On average we drill down between 18 and 30m to find it.”
So sure is he that the water is there to be tapped that Mr Dubinchak is even telling customers that they don’t have to pay if they don’t hit water.
The 27- year- old also knows how to divine for water using a piece of wire.
“It is controversial and most people are a bit unsure about it,” he said.
“It’s not a guarantee but it’s an additional option.
“It increases your chance of finding water.”
NQ Drilling director Chris Sheedy said Townsville’s prolonged dry spell had meant some southern companies had moved up but he welcomed extra players in the market.
“A few years ago there were two or three contractors, now there’s probably six to 10 drilling contractors,” he said.
“The competition is there, making it more affordable for people.”
Meteorologist Doug Fraser said climate outlooks for the rest of winter and spring were neutral.
“We’re no longer looking at an El Nino which is better for us – it’s looking better now than it was a couple of months ago,” he said.