Works & Services News 2026
Works & Services Update - August 2026
During August, the Works and Services team continued to deliver a broad range of routine maintenance, operational and capital works across the municipality. This included pothole repairs, road grading, drainage works, vegetation control and guidepost maintenance, along with ongoing mowing, brush cutting and general upkeep of parks, reserves, footpaths, public spaces and Council facilities.
Road works were carried out across the Island, including pothole repairs on Walkers Lookout, Palana Road and Lackrana Road, drainage works at Coast Road and Badger Corner Road, and vegetation management along a number of roads. Tree trimming and slashing were also undertaken to help maintain visibility and safe access, with tree removal completed at the Lady Barron Waste Transfer Station.
The team also continued work on a number of community facilities and capital projects. This included improvements around the new crossovers on Moonbird Street, work on the Lady Barron Tennis Courts, repairs and maintenance at the Whitemark playground, and ongoing maintenance of the Whitemark Gym. Regular mowing, cleaning and maintenance of public toilets, halls, gyms, the airport, BBQs, tables and seating also continued throughout the month.
Waste and recycling remained an important part of the team's work, with waste and recyclables transported from the Killiecrankie and Lady Barron Waste Transfer Stations to the Whitemark Waste Facility for further processing. The recycling hubs and Recycle Rewards machine were routinely serviced, while work also began to sort and clear the e-waste section of the Whitemark facility.
August also saw a number of materials sent off Island for recovery, including 800 litres of cooking fat, 900 kg of e-waste and 10.7 kg of blister packs. The community recycling hubs collected a further 12.7 kg of eligible materials, bringing the total amount diverted from landfill since the program began to 672.46 kg. Household batteries, coffee pods and printer cartridges continue to be the highest-performing recycling programs.
The drumMUSTER and bagMUSTER campaign also got underway during August, with inspections completed for 27 drums and 10 bags. The team has been speaking with local farmers to promote the programs, with an information brochure also prepared to help make it easier for the community to understand what can be accepted and how to take part.
Behind the scenes, work also continued on waste management planning and reporting, including preparation of the Annual Landfill Volumetric Report, updates to waste management documentation and ongoing work with Circular North on regional waste diversion.
Many thanks to the Works and Services crew for their continued hard work and dedication throughout August. From keeping our roads and public spaces maintained to managing waste and supporting our community facilities, their work plays an important role in keeping Flinders Island safe, clean, accessible and well looked after.
Works & Services Update - July 2026
During July, the Works and Services team continued to deliver a broad range of routine maintenance, operational and facility works across the municipality. This included pothole repairs, road grading, drainage works, vegetation control, road sweeping, guidepost and signage maintenance, along with ongoing mowing, brush cutting, footpath inspections and general upkeep of parks, reserves, public spaces and Council facilities.
The team also continued to support the maintenance of community facilities, including the Whitemark and Lady Barron gyms, where old equipment was removed as part of the recent equipment upgrades. Repairs were also carried out to the Lady Barron BBQ, while regular cleaning continued across public toilets, Council offices, the airport, halls and other community facilities.
Waste and recycling services remained a key focus throughout the month, with waste and recyclables transported from the Killiecrankie and Lady Barron Waste Transfer Stations to the Whitemark Waste Facility for further processing. The active landfill area was compacted and covered, while recycling hubs and the Recycle Rewards machine were routinely serviced. A traffic counter was also installed at the Lady Barron Waste Transfer Station to help Council better understand how the facility is being used.
July was another positive month for recycling, with 22.53 kg of eligible materials collected through the community recycling hubs. This brings the total amount of material diverted from landfill since the program began to 659.77 kg. Household batteries, coffee pods and printer cartridges continue to be the highest-performing recycling programs, highlighting the community's ongoing commitment to finding ways to reduce waste going to landfill.
The team also continued to support community events and workplace health and safety initiatives. A detailed risk assessment was developed for the Repair Fair, volunteers were inducted into the FAEC, and equipment being used at the event was electrically tested and tagged to help ensure a safe and compliant event.
Many thanks to the Works and Services crew for their continued hard work and dedication throughout July. Their work across our roads, facilities, parks, public spaces and waste services plays an important role in keeping Flinders Island safe, clean, accessible and well maintained for our community.
Works & Services Update - June 2026
During June, the Works and Services team continued to deliver a broad range of routine maintenance, operational and capital works across the municipality. This included pothole repairs, grading, drainage improvements, guidepost replacement and road sweeping, along with ongoing town maintenance, cleaning, waste and recycling services, funeral duties and the care of Council buildings, parks, public spaces and community facilities.
There was also a continued focus on workplace health and safety, with improvements to reporting, volunteer induction processes and policy development. These changes are helping to strengthen safety practices, improve consistency and support staff and volunteers across Council operations.
At the Whitemark Waste Facility, several important projects progressed during the month. The new motor oil shelter was completed, the Circular North-funded chemical shed was constructed, and the Recycle Rewards machine and shipping container were relocated closer to the facility entrance to improve access and site operations. Planning also continued for traffic management improvements, environmental monitoring and future waste data systems.
A particular highlight was the first anniversary of Recycle Rewards. In its first 12 months, the community returned more than 290,000 eligible drink containers, including aluminium cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles and cartons. This is a fantastic result and shows the strong commitment of our community to recycling and reducing waste sent to landfill.
The team also continued capital and maintenance works across local roads and public spaces, including resheeting, drainage works, footpath renewal, mowing, brush cutting, gutter cleaning, signage improvements and maintenance of boat ramps, public toilets, halls, gyms and other Council facilities.
Many thanks to the Works and Services crew for their continued hard work, care and dedication throughout the month. Their efforts often happen quietly in the background, but they make a real difference in keeping our roads, facilities and public spaces safe, clean, accessible and well maintained for the whole community.
Works & Services Update - May 2026
Council’s Works and Services team has continued to deliver important maintenance, safety improvements, and infrastructure upgrades across the island throughout May.
A strong focus on safety remains a priority, with ongoing improvements in waste management operations, regular safety meetings, and compliance checks on vehicles and plant to ensure equipment and procedures meet required standards.
Across the road network, grading, drainage works, pothole repairs, and guidepost installations were completed on a number of key roads to maintain safe and reliable access. Capital works also progressed, including gravel works near the airport for the dog pound and early works for the new Waste Oil Facility.
Town maintenance crews have been busy keeping public spaces clean, safe, and well presented. This has included mowing and brush cutting across townships and reserves, cleaning public facilities, maintaining footpaths and gutters, installing new signage, and completing repairs to community infrastructure. New footpaths were also delivered in Lady Barron and Whitemark to improve accessibility.
Waste and recycling services continue to operate efficiently, with materials transported, processed, and managed at the Whitemark Waste Facility. Recycling efforts remain strong, with over 624 kg of material diverted from landfill since the program began and continued contributions collected during May.
In addition to operational work, the team has progressed planning, reporting, staff training, and improvements to waste facilities, while continuing to keep the community informed through regular communications.
Works & Services Update - April 2026
Works & Services Update - March 2026
It’s been a busy and productive month for the Works and Services team, with plenty happening across the island to keep things running smoothly.
A big focus continues to be on safety. The team regularly reviews how work is carried out to make sure everyone is working safely and looking out for one another. Recent discussions have also included staff wellbeing and workload, which are important as the team balances a wide range of responsibilities. We’ve also been working closely with TasPorts and the Department of State Growth to make sure our systems align with best practice.
Across the road network, maintenance works have been ongoing, with grading, patching and drainage improvements helping to keep roads in good condition. These works might not always be highly visible, but they make a real difference to everyday travel around the island, particularly after weather events.
Our capital works program is also progressing well, with road resheeting continuing across several areas. These upgrades are part of a longer-term effort to improve road quality and reliability for the community. Supporting works, including quarry operations and material deliveries, have been happening behind the scenes.
Around town, the team has been busy with mowing, brush cutting and general upkeep across Whitemark, Lady Barron, the showgrounds and cemeteries. Gardens have been maintained, drains cleared, and footpaths tidied to help keep public spaces safe, accessible and welcoming.
There’s also been a steady stream of maintenance across Council buildings and facilities. From small repairs to cleaning and landscaping, the team has been working to keep public spaces functional and well cared for. Public toilets, halls, the airport and recreational areas continue to be cleaned and maintained regularly.
Waste and recycling services have continued as normal, with materials collected from the Transfer Stations and processed through the Whitemark Waste Facility. Managing waste is an ongoing task, and the team works hard to keep the sites clean, safe and operating efficiently.
In March, just over 104 tonnes of waste was processed. At the same time, it’s encouraging to see continued community support for recycling. A recent Cash-4-Cans event brought volunteers together to process around 3000 containers, and the recycling hubs at the Tip and Walkers IGA continue to divert a growing amount of material from landfill. Items like batteries, coffee pods and printer cartridges are among the most commonly recycled, showing how small actions can add up to a big difference.
Behind the scenes, there’s also a lot of planning and coordination happening. This includes preparing for the new recycling shed and future hazardous waste collection events. The team is also exploring new ways to improve recycling options and reduce waste where possible.
Training has also been a priority this month, with staff completing courses in First Aid, working at heights and safety inspections.
Alongside all of this, the team continues to respond to the many smaller, day-to-day tasks that arise – from helping with community events to carrying out minor repairs and keeping essential services running.
Overall, it’s been a strong month of steady progress. The team has continued to deliver across a wide range of services, helping to maintain the infrastructure and spaces that support everyday life on Flinders Island.
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Works & Services – February 2026
Here’s a quick look at what our Works & Services team has been doing around the Island over the past month.
Roads & Infrastructure
Our crews have been out improving and maintaining local roads, including:
- Grading and resheeting on Boot Corner, Trousers Point, Palana and Boat Harbour Roads
- Bitumen patching along Franklin Parade
- Drainage upgrades at Trousers Point Road, Coast Road and the Waste Facility
- Vegetation trimming and tree removal to keep roadsides safe
- New guideposts installed on Trousers Point Road
Parks, Towns & Public Spaces
We’ve been keeping our shared spaces tidy and welcoming:
- Regular mowing in Whitemark, Lady Barron, showgrounds and cemeteries
- Mulching and garden care - including pruning and fixing drippers at the Whitemark Rose Garden
- Footpath checks and gutter clearing in Whitemark
- Routine emptying of bins across townships
- Inspections of boat ramps and playgrounds
- Cleaning of public toilets, Council buildings, the Airport and community facilities
Community Facilities
- Repairs at the Duck Pond Childcare Centre and Yellow Beach toilets
- New gas BBQ installed at the Lady Barron Tennis Courts
- Staff completed playground inspection training to help keep equipment safe
Waste & Recycling
It was a busy month for recycling and waste services:
- 59.25 tonnes of recyclable materials were shipped off-Island
- Recycling hubs collected 11.6kg of items in February - bringing the total diverted from landfill to over 583kg
- Work continued on the new recycling shed, with the horizontal baler now in place
Safety & Compliance
- The Airport contractor induction was updated to meet CASA expectations
- The Hot Works Permit was refreshed to make it clearer and safer for everyone working on site
Works & Services Update – January 2026
Our Works & Services team has had a very busy start to the year, and we wanted to share a snapshot of what’s been happening across the island during January.
Safety first
A full review of Job Safety Analyses has been completed to make sure safety information is clear, current and consistent for crews. The Safety Officer also spent dedicated days working alongside Roads, Town Maintenance and Waste crews, building stronger understanding of day-to-day tasks and hazards through practical, on-site collaboration.
Roads and drainage
Across the island, crews repaired potholes on:
Five Mile Jim, Melrose, Edens, Summer Camp, Madeley’s, Haulands Gap, Camerons Inlet, Palana, Fairhaven, Reedy Lagoon, West End and Wingaroo Roads.
Other works included:
- Maintenance grading on Palana Road
- Contractor grading on Trousers Point Road
- Drainage works on Kuhns and Melrose Roads
- Weed spraying and vegetation control
- New guideposts and signage at multiple locations
- Re-sheeting works on Fairhaven and Port Davies Roads
- Training on new road maintenance equipment
Town maintenance and public spaces
Our parks, reserves and public areas continue to be maintained across Whitemark and Lady Barron, including mowing, brush cutting and servicing cemeteries and the Showgrounds.
Recent work includes:
- Monthly footpath inspections and removal of trip hazards
- Emptying town and remote rubbish bins
- New signage installed at Whitemark Tip
- Monthly inspections of boat ramps
- Bluff Track cleared of fallen trees and overhanging branches
- Roof repairs at Duckpond and the Depot workshop
- Removal of old asbestos cladding and demolition of the old Depot toilet block
- Preparations for the new Depot ablutions block and lunchroom
- Ongoing cleaning of public toilets, halls, gyms, airport and BBQ areas
- Support for Lady Barron Community BBQ events
- New benches installed at the Depot hothouse
Waste and resource recovery
Waste from Killiecrankie and Lady Barron Transfer Stations is regularly transported to Whitemark for processing, with regular landfill compaction and covering completed.
Other highlights:
- Recycling hubs and Recycle Rewards machine serviced regularly
- Continued construction of the recycling shed
- New organisation systems introduced in the Giving Shed to keep donations rotating and manageable
- Trial of a dedicated scrap-metal hook lift bin
- 1,800 litres of motor oil safely transported off island for disposal
Recycling progress
In January, 13.31 kg of hard-to-recycle items were collected, bringing the total diverted from landfill to 571.8 kg since the program began.
Top recycling streams so far:
- Batteries – 178.7 kg
- Coffee pods – 135.2 kg
- Printer cartridges – 93.3 kg
- Hair care products – 31.1 kg
- Dish and air care – 25.4 kg
Thank you to everyone who continues to use these programs 💚