The Mareeba-Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme (MDWSS) is the region's critical irrigation infrastructure, delivering water to farms throughout the Mareeba and Dimbulah districts. Sunwater has undertaken a major modernisation project to improve operating and distribution efficiency, reducing water losses and delivering more than 8,000 megalitres of additional water for customers.

The project, which commenced construction in 2018, includes the installation of over 100 automated regulator gates in irrigation channels, 14 kilometres of pipeline replacement, expansion of in-channel storages at various locations, improvements to concrete structures, and installation of new flumes, gates, and monitoring equipment.

Long-term water security has never been more important for the region. With agriculture booming and featuring heavily in Australia's economic recovery, and the region enjoying a buoyant real estate market, reliable water supply underpins the entire economic outlook for Mareeba Shire.

A transformative water infrastructure project under investigation is the proposed Lakeland Dam, which would dramatically expand irrigation capacity in the region. The project proposes expanding irrigable land from the current 1,400 hectares to more than 8,000 hectares, capable of supplying approximately 71,400 megalitres of water annually.

The proposed dam would have a capacity of 200,000 megalitres, with water to be extracted via a gravity tunnel and distributed through a pressurised pipeline system. This represents one of the most significant water infrastructure proposals for northern Australia and would underpin decades of agricultural expansion in the region.

The Queensland Government has committed $9 million to Regional Water Assessments, delivering assessments in three significant regions across the state, including the Atherton Tablelands. The eastern parts of Mareeba Shire and the Tablelands Regional Council area are part of this project, which aims to set a roadmap for economic growth where water is the catalyst.

The assessments consider improvements to existing infrastructure, new infrastructure proposals, and non-infrastructure solutions. A shortlisting process identifies options that warrant further investigation or investment. The agriculture community and local government have long lobbied for a three-pronged approach to securing long-term water security on the Tablelands, including calls for the North Johnstone Diversion to be properly investigated and assessed.

A safe, efficient, and reliable transport network is a critical priority for Mareeba Shire's continued economic growth. The Mareeba Chamber of Commerce has been actively lobbying for the road between Cairns and Mareeba (the Kennedy Highway, including the Kuranda Range Road) to be declared a Road of National Importance, which would unlock various federal funding streams for upgrades.

The lack of an efficient freight transport network is seen as potentially detrimental to the growth of Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands, potentially acting as a cap on major investment opportunities. The Chamber has also pushed for investigation into a viable alternative route between Cairns and Mareeba, particularly after temporary restrictions on the Barron River Bridge highlighted the vulnerability of existing connections.

Ootann Road Upgrade

The Ootann Road is a 91.4 km route with approximately 85 km currently unsealed and sub-standard in terms of carrying capacity, flood immunity, and traffic capacity. Cost estimates to seal the remaining 77 km within Mareeba Shire range from $75 million to $100 million.

The road is part of the Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan (IQ-RAP) and was recently included in Infrastructure Australia's 2021 Infrastructure Priority List. It provides a strategic link to southern markets for the region's horticulture and beef cattle industries. Upgrading the road would deliver enormous benefits, saving between 260 km and 880 km per trip for intra-regional and interstate freight movements, and would provide a critical connection for industries, communities, and tourists across the Inland Queensland Road Network.

Mareeba Shire is positioning itself as a centre for renewable energy generation in Far North Queensland. MSF Sugar's biomass co-generation facility already produces 24 megawatts of baseload green power from sugarcane bagasse, selling over two-thirds to the national electricity grid.

The region's abundant sunshine, available land, and proximity to transmission infrastructure make it attractive for solar energy development. Mareeba Shire Council has established dedicated rating categories for renewable energy facilities at various scales, from sub-49 MW community-scale projects to utility-scale installations exceeding 200 MW capacity, reflecting both existing and planned developments across the shire.

Mareeba Shire has experienced significant growth in building activity, with approvals rising from 327 in 2019-20 to 429 in 2020-21. Residential building approvals more than doubled in value, surging from $22 million to over $49 million. This reflects strong demand from interstate migration, local population growth, and investor confidence in the region's long-term prospects.

New residential subdivisions and industrial developments are progressing across the shire. The Mareeba Industrial Park offers opportunities for businesses seeking to establish operations in the region, while residential developments in and around Mareeba town are meeting demand from the growing population.

Development applications and council meeting minutes relating to new projects across the shire can be accessed through the MSC Document Archive, which provides a searchable database of over 1,500 council documents including development applications, infrastructure progress reports, and corporate policies.