BUSINESS
Friday, October 2, 2020
Cairns Local News
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Cairns locals Chris Green and Laeticia Buscaglia enjoying breakfast at the Lillypad Café on Grafton Street.
Thumbs up to dogs, beers and scooters TANYA MURPHY
THE Cairns Regional Council’s annual “Our Cairns” survey is creating much discussion among local residents about whether dogs, cyclists and electric scooters should be allowed on CBD footpaths, and whether consumption of alcohol should be allowed on the Esplanade. Cairns Local News found several locals enjoying their breakfast at the Lillypad Café on Grafton Street on Tuesday and heard their views on these issues. Cairns local Chris Green said he had already filled out the survey and that in his opinion, cyclists, skateboards and electric scooters should be given designated lanes on the road.
saw that they have electric scooters everywhere and we should be looking at moving towards that sort of green friendly style of city,” said Chris.
“I previously lived in Denmark and they have specific lanes on the road for bicycles and electric scooters and that’s what we should have here. “I definitely don’t think they should be allowed on the footpath because there are too many people and kids there and it’s possible for a pedestrian to be seriously injured by a collision with a cyclist.
responsibly and don’t litter.”
Greg and Karen Caulfield agreed that electric scooters were popular in other cities, but that they should be in the bike lane on a road and should use helmets. “The city footpaths have too many seated dining areas and pedestrians for people to ride scooters, bicycles and skateboards there,” said Karen. “It’s okay for people to have a few beers on the Esplanade as long as they’re not drunk and disorderly, and dogs should be allowed as long as they’re on leads. “But what we’d really like to see is more free parking!”
“When we visited Paris we
“I do think dogs should be allowed in the city as long as people clean up after them, and I think it’s okay for people to drink alcohol on the Esplanade as long as they do it
Construction is complete on a first of its kind dual-purpose health facility delivering a jobs bonanza during construction for local Cairns tradespeople and industry.
involvement and there were 559 workers inducted on site during the 12 months of construction with 94 per cent of those total workers coming from greater Cairns.
can convert into an interim medical centre complete with triage facilities, procedure rooms and an operating theatre to enable birthing if required.
The $14.9 million Cairns South Health Facility on Walker Road in Edmonton has been officially opened today by the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave.
“I think this project is an example of a strong local project bringing jobs and industry to the area, particularly during this unusual time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The facility, located opposite the designated cyclone shelter at the PCYC Edmonton, has its own power generation and water supply can operate for up to five days post disaster.
Rebecca Brooks said she’d love to bring her dog into the CBD if more places allowed it.
“At Trinity Beach I always take my dog with me to the local café,” she said. “But it depends on the type of dog, big dogs would be more difficult.” She also said it was stressful to drive with cyclists on the road. “I’d prefer it if they were on the footpath, or on a lane that’s further away from traffic,” she said. There is still plenty of time for people to have their say, as the survey is open until 5pm on Friday October 16. Visit the Cairns Regional Council website to complete the online survey, or pick up a hard-copy survey form from Council’s Customer Service Centre at Spence Street, or your nearest library branch.
Greg and Karen Caulfield
South Cairns Health Facility Officially Opened
“This is a unique health building in Australia because of its ability to convert from a community health facility, into an emergency response medical centre during natural disasters. “The local involvement in this construction project has been excellent. “One of my priorities was to ensure a high level of local
“I am pleased to see the completion of this first of its kind facility and would like to thank Principal Contractor Hansen Yuncken for getting the job done during the difficulties associated with the pandemic and in time for the 2020/2021 cyclone season. “In the event of a natural disaster, such as a cyclone, and if Cairns Hospital is evacuated, the facility
“There is a state-of-the-art helipad on-site to transfer patients needing care following a disaster event or to evacuate patients from the area. “I am also pleased to see the raintrees on the site are thriving and have been retained on the site,” Mr Pitt said. Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service acting Chief Executive Of-
ficer Tina Chinery said the Cairns South Health Facility will commence operations in November. “It will operate as a renal dialysis hub for patients from southern Cairns six days a week during normal day to day operations. “It is going to save a lot of travel for those patients from the south side who will be able to have their dialysis three times a week locally, rather than travelling in to Cairns Hospital. “During normal operation, this facility will provide a much-needed dialysis service with 12 chairs available to cater for the health needs of those patients with end stage renal failure in the growing South Cairns community,” Ms Chinery said. “When the doors open in
November, staff on-site will include a pharmacist, dietician, nurses, a part-time doctor and an indigenous liaison officer. “Between now and November, our staff will be preparing and testing how we manage the transition over from community health centre to emergency medical facility, which is very timely as we approach the cyclone season. “During emergency mode up to 48 health care staff can be on-site with up to 28 treatment spaces and an additional triage and fast track area supported by x-ray and pharmacy facilities. “Additionally, in emergency mode there are treatment spaces for high acuity patients and people requiring surgical or minor procedures.
“The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) is delighted with this new development and is looking forward to integrating its capacity into our service network in the region.” Rosemary Iloste, Chair of the Health Service’s Trinity Community Consultation Committee welcomed the development of the new health facility. “As a community member, it’s very reassuring to know that we will have an emergency health facility built to withstand a category 5 cyclone.” “We are sure that the people of the southern corridor of Cairns will be very appreciative of the extra health facility in their area.”
