Heavy Plant Operator (Grader)

• Contribute to the successful completion of various construction and land development projects
• Work in a physically demanding environment, maintaining a focus on health and safety 
• Work life balance with a 9 day fortnight
• Operate heavy plant machinery safely and efficiently on various projects

Located in beautiful Far North Queensland where the rainforest meets the Outback, the Mareeba Shire provides an idyllic, regional lifestyle with the convenience of being only an hour from an international airport, cafes, restaurants, theatres and tropical beaches in the regional city of Cairns.

Mareeba Shire Council is a high-performing, community-focussed organisation with over 200 dedicated staff. Our recent budget was praised in the media for its considered and sensible approach, demonstrating our commitment to financial responsibility and community investment. This is a unique opportunity to join a well-regarded council making a real impact across the region.

Our Heavy Plant Operators (Grader) are responsible for the operation and general maintenance of Council plant for road construction and maintenance as well as providing other support for the department, as directed. Plant will include heavy mechanical plant such as single unit graders over 35KW.

This role will be required to work in a variety of locations throughout the Shire including Works programs that may involve working and camping in remote locations for specific periods of time.

The position requires physically demanding work to be undertaken in a hot and humid climate on a daily basis. It is the responsibility of the Heavy Plant Operator (Grader) to ensure they are physically fit and able to efficiently and consistently undertake these tasks. This includes a requirement to maintain their weight at or below the Safe Working Load (SWL) for the machinery and equipment the position is required to operate. 

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience operating earth moving equipment in civil and road construction or similar work environments. We are seeking individuals who have the ability to operate plant to the exact specifications in civil construction environments and undertake highly skilled final trim operations, when required. You will:

• Have experience operating graders including, road formation grading, roadside drainage works and gravel re-sheeting
• Have strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to diagnose faults in heavy plant and recommend or apply appropriate maintenance or repair actions
• Have strong work ethics with results focus and the ability to contribute and work within a team environment, effectively communicating both verbally and in writing with other team members and supervisors
• Have a current Queensland HR driver's licence, a Queensland Construction Industry White Card, Operator tickets and / or VOC Certification and be eligible to acquire Queensland Traffic Control Accreditation

The role is physically demanding and requires you to be physically fit and will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a pre-employment medical assessment. 

You will be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident or have unrestricted work rights in Australia. Mareeba Shire Council does not offer employer visa sponsorship. 

• Permanent, full-time position
• LGEA Level 6 - $64,331 per annum (Progression opportunities as per Classification Guidelines for Grader Operations)
• Mareeba Allowance of $2,080 per annum
• 12% employer superannuation contributions
• 5 weeks annual leave with 17.5% leave loading
• Work life balance - 9 day fortnight
• Lifestyle benefits such as access to Fitness Passport, discounted health insurance, gift cards and corporate banking
• Learning and development opportunities
• Salary sacrificing options

Please refer to the Position Description, or contact William Morgan, Foreperson Construction & Maintenance, on 0409 064 *** (during business hours only). 

Click the Apply Now button to begin your application. Applications must contain your current resume and a short cover letter (Word or PDF files only). Please note, your resume and cover letter may be considered examples of your written communication skills.

We review applications as they are received to ensure we secure the best talent for our organisation. In some cases, interviews may be scheduled and roles filled before the advertised closing date. We therefore strongly encourage applicants to submit their applications as early as possible after a position is advertised.

Please note, Mareeba Shire Council does not offer visa sponsorship and you must be either an Australian or New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident or have unrestricted work rights in Australia to be considered for this position.

Applications close Sunday, 9 August 2026

Mareeba Shire Council is committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity and workplace diversity.  We encourage a diverse workforce reflective of our community to better meet the needs of our customers.