WORKERS at the $14.6 million Edmonton cyclone shelter are racing against time to get the Category 5 shelter built before the end of the next cyclone season.

Yesterday, Minister for Housing and Public Works Bruce Flegg turned the sod at Edmonton Leisure Centre with its completion expected in late February.

Managed by Cairns Regional Council, the project has been delayed because of council’s late election on April 28.

A council spokeswoman said tenders for the work closed on March 6 but the contractor, Matrix Projects, could not be appointed until May 30 – after the election.

"The contractors got on-site as soon as the contract was awarded," she said.

"It will be completed before the end of the cyclone season (April/May)."

Site manager Aaron Gibbs said the 4745 sq m site had been cleared after construction started two weeks ago.

"The building slab has been cleared and we have brought in 3000 cubic metres of fill," he said.

"Next Monday we put in the electrical and plumbing in the ground."

Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the shelter was jointly funded by the three levels of government.

Council granted $8.1 million, State Government gave $5 million and the Federal Government funded $1.5 million.

"This particular cyclone shelter was very well received," he said.

"This one will provide shelter for between 1800 and 2000 people."

Mr Pitt said the shelter would also double as an indoor sporting complex with two multi-purpose courts.

"For all those other times it is going to provide great additional sporting facilities for Edmonton," he said.

"There will be options for young people in the southern corridor of Cairns, it will keep them busy."

Mr Pitt said he would also like to see the site used for a Police Citizens Youth Club, similar to the one in
Manunda.

The shelter includes an office space which can be used a communications centre during a disaster, 32 toilets, 20 showers, a kitchen, underground water tanks and generator.

When completed, the shelter will be able to withstand winds of more than 300km/h.

The shelter is one of 10 being built in North Queensland as part of the $60 million cyclone shelter program funded by the State Government and Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

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