Patrick Estate Road upgrades underway

Somerset Regional Council’s betterment project on Patrick Estate Road at Patrick Estate is well underway with traffic now directed to the newly constructed temporary sealed sidetrack.

This existing culvert, between Mahons Road and Roseborough Road, was damaged during the 2022 floods and will be replaced with a flood resilient bridge.

Contractors will start soon on removing the old culvert.

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said the new bridge was part of Council’s efforts to build stronger, smarter and more resilient roads and infrastructure.

“We want our roads and bridges to be able to survive flood events like we saw in 2022,” Cr Wendt said.

“Council appreciates the community’s patience and enthusiasm for projects like this.”

The new bridge is expected to be completed by June 2025, weather permitting.

The $3.7 million works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Council Prepares for Summer Grass Growing Season

Somerset Regional Council is gearing up for the busy summer grass-growing season, actively monitoring public spaces for overgrowth and engaging additional contractors to manage the increased workload.

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt highlighted that October through to April is an especially demanding period for Council’s parks and gardens team.

“Weather plays a significant role in grass growth, and our teams work hard to stay on top of regular maintenance,” Mayor Wendt said.

“We ask residents and visitors to remember that Somerset is a large region, and maintaining it takes time and resources."

Council applies various criteria to prioritise mowing and slashing, including safety risks, park environments, events and foot and vehicle traffic.

Council thanks the community for their patience and understanding during this busy season.

Successful Free Tree Day in Esk

Somerset Regional Council gave away about 8,000 plants to ratepayers at its second Free Tree Day of the season, held at the Somerset Civic Centre in Esk on Saturday, 2 November.

There is one more opportunity for Somerset ratepayers to collect their native plants, at the Kilcoy Memorial Hall on Saturday, 16 November, between 8am and 11am.

Ratepayers need to bring their free tree voucher (attached to their Somerset rates notice) to redeem 10 flowering, bird-attracting plants. Properties over eight hectares can get an additional 10 larger native trees.

Fernvale Showground capsule commemorates Australian Bicentenary

Somerset Regional Council will host a time capsule opening at Fernvale Showground on Saturday, 23 November.

The Fernvale Hall Committee and Fernvale Bicentenary Committee created the capsule in 1988 to commemorate the Australian Bicentenary.

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt invited residents to attend the unveiling and sausage sizzle.

“Come and celebrate our shared history and aspirations for the future at this special event,” Cr Wendt said.

The unveiling will be held at the Fernvale Showground gates from 10am with refreshments provided by Fernvale Lions.

Made it Market at the Condensery

Find the perfect gifts from at a special Christmas twilight market on Saturday, 23 November at The Condensery in Toogoolawah.

Somerset Regional Council has partnered with BrisStyle to transform the unique cultural precinct into a bustling hub of festive creativity with the inaugural Made it Market.

This market is a celebration of small handmade businesses, each carefully selected to offer a diverse range of unique and beautiful wares.

From handcrafted jewellery and bespoke fashion to one-of-a-kind home decor and delectable treats, you’ll find treasures that reflect the passion and skill of the region’s talented artisans.

The market will be held from 3pm to 8pm with food, refreshments and plenty of Christmas gifts available.

Australia Day award nominations open for Somerset

Somerset residents are encouraged to nominate an outstanding citizen for one of six Australia Day Award categories.

Each year, Somerset Regional Council proudly hosts an Australia Day Awards Ceremony recognising the outstanding contributions of many Somerset residents.

Award categories include Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Arts and Culture Award, Sports Award, Community Group of the Year and Event of the Year.

Nominations are open now and close 1 December 2024.

Award winners will be announced in a special presentation on Friday, 24 January at the Somerset Civic Centre in Esk.

To download a nomination form visit somerset.qld.gov.au