Cairns Local News January 12 2024 by Cairns Local News

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Highway to ﬂow again l FAR NORTH

Still no new division 4 councillor after farcical local body meeting l CAIRNS REGION | Nick Dalton REPLACING Cairns Regional Council’s division four representative is easier said than done after a meeting to vote on the position turned into a chaotic political bunfight. The council – at its final meeting of the year on December 21 – failed to appoint a new division 4 councillor to replace Cr Terry James, who became the new mayor late last year. Proceedings became farcical after all five Unity Team councillors were judged as having conflicts of interest, despite legal advice to the contrary. That left just four independent councillors – not enough to make a quorum – and a further meeting is required before January 21.

A by-election cannot be held as it is too close to the local body poll on March 16. The eight people seeking the division 4 seat are former United Australia Party senate candidate and community advocate Yohan (Yodie) Batzke, former division 4 candidate and bus driver Scott Colbran, division four candidate and lawyer Shane Cuthbert, customs officer and community volunteer Cate Mahoney, pharmacist and Coast Guard volunteer Mark McCombie, paramedic and Unity team division 4 candidate Jeremy Neal, former Mulgrave shire councillor Rosario (Ross) Parisi and lawyer and businesswoman Joseline (Joy) Quinones. Team Eden’s division 4 candidate Trevor Tim did not apply for the position. Mr Cuthbert has also presented a petition signed by more than 250 residents supporting him if he is not nominated by a sitting councillor.

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BE SMART ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL 2024 School Savvy Youth Ambassador Yasmin Rivett is calling for donations to make the return to school easier for struggling families. FULL STORY PAGE 9

THE Captain Cook Highway between Ellis Beach and Port Douglas is set to re-open next weekend after being closed for nearly a month following Cyclone Jasper flooding. In the meantime construction has also started on a single lane for heavy vehicles on the Palmerston Highway between Crawfords Lookout and Junction Rd. It is expected to open mid-February. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese returned to the region on Wednesday this week to inspect progress on the restoration of roads and communities damaged significantly in the floods. He also announced more than $44 million in relief funding, including a $24.25m Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program of grants for Far North operators who have been cut-off or heavily affected by the extreme weather, a $20m Clean-Up Program for councils and state agencies to clear up debris, three cyclone industry recovery and resilience officers plus recovery project managers for Wujal Wujal Aboriginal and Douglas shire councils. “This beautiful place has been ravaged by this disaster, and we want to help Far North Queensland get back on its feet as soon as possible,” Mr Albanese said. FULL STORIES P4-5

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PAPER MANAGER Kath MacLean 0448 622 920 SALES EXECUTIVE Almando Anton 0407 374 780 JOURNALIST Isabella Guzman Gonzalez 0452 287 428

Yohan (Yodie) Batzke.

Scott Colbran.

Shane Cuthbert.

Cate Mahoney.

Mark McCombie.

Jeremy Neal.

Rosario (Ross) Parisi.

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FROM PAGE 1

found there was no conflicts. Mayor Terry James then responded by moving that the remaining Unity councillor Max O’Halloran was also conflicted. The position remains vacant after a quorum of councillors couldn’t be reached at the council’s ordinary meeting on December 21. A council spokesman said the legislation stated that the council must fill the vacant office within two months of

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Division 4 rep in abeyance Mr Neal was expected to have been nominated by the five (and majority) Unity team councillors. But at the December 21 meeting four independent councillors formed a bloc to vote four of the Unity Team councillors out of the meeting to stop Mr Neal’s nomination on the grounds of perceived conflicts of interest, despite legal opinion before the meeting

vacancy, which is January 21, 2024. “The appointment cannot be via delegation, it must be via a resolution of council,” he said. “Ministerial approval now needs to be sought to allow all councillors to participate in the decision. “If the approval is provided, the decision to appoint the new councillor will need to be made at a council meeting by January 21.” The December 21

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meeting was adjourned twice for the mayor to seek advice on procedure after four of the Unity members – Terry James, Brett Moller, Kristy Vallely and Rhonda Coghlan – were declared to have conflicts of interest. Independent councillor Brett Olds called for a stay-go vote over conflicts of interest after the council received three pieces of legal advice about the matter. After Cr O’Hallo-

ran was declared conflicted only four councillors remained and a quorum was unable to be formed. The meeting also descended into name calling between Cr O’Halloran and Cr Olds, as well as Cr O’Halloran firing a volley at the independent councillors. Deputy mayor Brett Moller told the meeting that inappropriate conduct was on display.

LETTERS PAGE 11

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Farewell ‘man of action’ Briefs Local

Funeral of former deputy mayor, cane farmer and family man l CHAMBER GRANT

l BENTLEY PARK | Gail Sedorkin

THE generosity, hard work and kindness of Joffre Louis (Jeff) Pezzutti was remembered and praised at his funeral mass at Bentley Park on Wednesday. The former Cairns deputy mayor, councillor and cane farmer, Jeff Pezzutti died on January 1, 2024, aged 88. More than 400 family, relatives and friends attended his funeral mass celebrated at St Therese’s Catholic Church. Delivering the eulogy, Mr Pezzutti’s daughter Karen Chester spoke of his unwavering support to all those around him, as well as his generosity, loyalty and kindness. She also spoke of her father’s passion for education when he sold his White Rock cane farm to the Anglican Church for the construction of Trinity Anglican School (TAS), as well as donating his time and resources to help make the school a reality. TAS staff and students attended the funeral on Wednesday. She said her father was hardworking, proud of his Italian heritage, dedicated to his family and a “man of action”. The mass also included a tribute to Cr Pezzutti’s national service with the playing of the Last Post and a minute’s silence. Mr Pezzutti was a councillor for both Mulgrave Shire Council and the then Cairns City Council where he served as deputy mayor before retiring in 2008 after 29 years of service.

Former mayors of Cairns, Bob Manning and Ron Davis, current Cairns Regional Council Mayor Cr Terry James, deputy mayor Cr Brett Moller, councillors and staff attended the mass, as well as Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch. Cr James said he was “very saddened to hear of Jeff’s passing – he was a fairminded person who never let politics get in the way of his beliefs”. “A decent bloke who loved his community, he was in turn loved by his community,” he said. “His practical advice and solutions abounded in the council chambers, he was well respected, and he had this unwavering passion for the people of Cairns.” He served more than 25 years in local government, firstly with Mulgrave Shire Council and later Cairns city, as a councillor and as deputy mayor. After 29 years of service, Mr Pezzutti retired prior to the 2008 local government election, but he remained very much involved the community and was closely associated with many local schools and sporting organisations. He was also patron of many sporting clubs including Leichhardt Football Club senior and junior club patron. “Jeff was a fine example of a dedicated community representative, and his commitment was recognised some time ago with the naming Jeff Pezzutti Park in Woree,” Cr James said. Mr Pezzutti is survived by his wife Emma, daughter Karen and grandchildren Jack and Emily.

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The casket of former deputy mayor and cane farmer Jeff Pezzutti (inset) is taken out of St Theresa’s Catholic Church at Bentley Park on Wednesday. More than 400 attended the funeral service.

Far North included in research about potentially deadly soil disease l FAR NORTH SCIENTISTS will use cuttingedge technology to determine and predict where the threat of the disease melioidosis is greatest, as the incidence of the dangerous condition increases. James Cook University microbiologist Associate Professor Jeffrey Warner will lead a

Northern Australian research program, funded by a $1.5 million National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Grant Award. “The bacteria that causes the disease, Burkholderia pseudomallei, lives in the environment, it’s not passed person to person. We think attributes and changes in the environment and climate might be responsible for

its spread, but we don’t know how or why,” said Dr Warner. He said the disease was now appearing in unexpected places and case notifications in Queensland had doubled over the past decade, with no clear pattern emerging. “In Cairns there have been clinical cases associated with road works but not correlated with extreme weather events.

In contrast, in Townsville clinical clusters seem to be linked to geology, soil type and ground run-off water exposure. “In Darwin and the Northern Territory, melioidosis particularly affects First Nations Australians. Even though melioidosis was first described in Queensland in the 1950s, we still are unsure where exactly people get it and how. We hope

to change that,” said Dr Warner. He said it was also important to know where and why the disease was spreading before it appears in new places. “It’s clear that unexpected melioidosis cases in regions where the disease is not recognised is often associated with delayed diagnosis or incorrect treatment which results in high fatality rates,” said Dr Warner.

He said the team would use advanced geospatial pathogen genomic epidemiological tools and high resolution remotely sensed climate geoscience and anthropogenic factor datasets to create time specific maps to predict melioidosis threats. The team will look at knowing where the organism is and what influences its persistence and movement.

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Cyclone Jasper’s aftermath

Highway to re-open

Kerbside collection continues

lFAR NORTH | Nick Dalton

l CAIRNS REGION

THE badly-damaged Captain Cook Highway between Ellis Beach and Port Douglas is set to re-open next weekend. Construction of a temporary single lane on the Palmerston Highway between Crawfords Lookout and Junction Rd has also started. It will be for heavy vehicles only. Transport and Main Roads Minister Minister Bart Mellish said following a dedicated focus and significant effort from Department of Transport and Main Roads crews over the Christmas and New Year period, the Captain Cook Highway would reopen between Ellis Beach and Port Douglas on Saturday, January 20 at 8am, weather and construction conditions permitting. “Single lane closures however should be expected for an initial time period. Motorists should expect delays and plan their journey,” he said. “To assist crews working on this part of the highway it is important that only essential travel is undertaken along this route. “Approximately 30,000 tonnes of mud and debris have been removed from the road. “There are over 15 trucks and heavy vehicles working on the site making about 100 trips each day to dispose of the debris. “We have approximately 100

CAIRNS Regional Council’s kerbside collection of hard waste in Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Caravonica, Kamerunga and Lake Placid is continuing. A council spokesman said free kerbside hard waste collection had been underway in those areas most affected by flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper since before Christmas. “The initial focus was on smaller items and clearing organic material from inside fridges and freezers,” he said. “Council will now focus on the removal of larger items, including fridges and freezers. “Residents are encouraged to place flood-damaged personal items, furnishing, appliances and building materials on the front verge/kerb for collection. “To assist residents across the Cairns Local Government Area, council will hold a free green waste disposal until Sunday, January 14. “Council will not be collecting green waste from the kerbside. “Residents are encouraged to put green waste to the side and bring it to the waste transfer stations during the free green waste drop-off period.”

Work continues on the Captain Cook Highway at Oak Beach with the aim of re-opening on Saturday, January 20. Picture: Transport and Main Roads

Motorists warned about lane closures and delays personnel and 65 pieces of machinery on site, including personnel from 10 local civil and construction companies. “The Palmerston Highway suffered significant damage with major pavement slips occurring. This will unfortunately

mean unavoidable long-term closures of this road to enable significant repairs. “We understand the significant impact this is having on heavy vehicle operators and the agricultural industry, so in addition to providing temporary

permits for an alternative route we are fast-tracking work to restore access on Palmerston Highway. “Construction of a temporary single lane section has commenced on the Palmerston between Crawfords Lookout and

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Junction Road and will accommodate heavy vehicles. The single lane will be open to traffic in mid-February, weather and site conditions in coming weeks permitting.” TMR is investigating a long-term solution for the highway’s rebuild.

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Damage to 400 houses l CASSOWARY COAST PRELIMINARY assessment of the Cassowary Coast has shown significant flood damage to homes and buildings, as well as council roads and infrastructure. More than 400 homes and buildings are damaged, with inundation levels reaching as high as 1.5m in some locations. Council buildings that experienced significant damage include River Drive Caravan Park which is closed until further notice, and a public toilet block at Liverpool Creek which is beyond restoration. Severe flooding has affected Innisfail and Tully showgrounds, including the newly built Tully Grandstand. Council road inspections have revealed moderate to major damage across most of its 500km unsealed road network, expected to be in the tens of millions of dollars. Cassowary Coast Mayor Mark Nolan said recovery took time ... “we stand with our friends and neighbours throughout the Cassowary Coast as we do everything in our resources to help the effort”. “It’s a priority for council to continue to deliver safe and accessible roads for our community and we are aiming to get our roads back to normal as quickly as possible but it will take some time.”

Cyclone Jasper’s aftermath

Prime Minister returns for inspection and funding announcements

Millions in ﬂood relief l FAR NORTH | Nick Dalton

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was back in the Far North this week to inspect the recovery process after Cyclone Jasper. He is pictured (clockwise from the bottom), with Queensland Premier Steven Miles; Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr; and in a helicopter surveying the damage. Pictures: Douglas Shire Council

PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese has promised more funding for Douglas Shire communities before taking an aerial inspection with Mayor Michael Kerr and Queensland Premier Steven Miles to inspect damage in the wake of Cyclone Jasper on Wednesday. The Prime Minister was amazed at the sheer size of landslides still blocking parts of the shire’s road network after announcing four funding programs of more than $40 million, including: • A $24.25m Tourism Recovery and Resilience Program of grants for Far North operators who have been cut-off or heavily affected by the extreme weather • A $20m Clean-Up Program for councils and state agencies to clear up desbris in the Far North and south-east • Three cyclone industry recovery and resilience officers to work with FNQ industry, councils and impacted farmers • Recovery project managers for Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and Douglas Shire Council. “This beautiful place has been ravaged by this disaster, and we want to help Far North Queensland get back on its feet as soon as possible,” Mr Albanese said. “Disas-

ter recovery at this scale will take time so it’s vital we keep making these investments so that Far North Queensland can bounce back faster and stronger,” he said. “Tourism, in particular, is one of the lifeblood industries of Far North Queensland, and we want to make sure businesses hit hard can not only survive but thrive again. “We’re also giving a boost to clean-up efforts and focused recovery for primary producers and the councils of Wujal Wujal and Douglas, which will make a major difference for the region.” Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr urged local residents and business operators to make the most of the new financial assistance on offer. He said a commitment had been made to send more on-ground support with ADF assistance to the region. “We’ll have extra boots on the ground in the next 48 hours,” he said. In the meantime a geo-tech engineer will join local work crews surveying the best and safest way to clear a giant 56m-high landslide at the top of Noah’s Range. Council teams have united with locals over the past few weeks and access to all residential properties has now been cleared. Shire council acting chief executive Scott Mason said workers were facing a mammoth task co-ordinating tricky and complex operations.

Council News Update Rates assistance Half-yearly rates notices, with a due date of Thursday 14 February, have been issued. Financial assistance is available to those ratepayers who have been severely impacted by the Tropical Cyclone Jasper flooding event.

Free green waste disposal available To help residents clean up after recent flooding, Council is offering residents free green waste drop off at its transfer stations until this Sunday 14 January. The offer is available at the Portsmith, Smithfield, Babinda, and Gordonvale Transfer Stations, which are open seven days, from 8.30am to 5.15pm. This offer is for domestic cars, utilities and/ or trailers and light trucks (vehicle weight to GVM 4 tonnes).

Kerbside waste collection Kerbside hard waste collections are continuing in the flood-affected areas of Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Caravonica, Kamerunga, and Lake Placid. Residents should place flood-damaged personal items, furnishing, appliances and building materials on the front verge/ kerb for collection.

Ratepayers can request extended interest free repayment arrangements for their outstanding and upcoming rates notices. Council will also ensure that impacted ratepayers are not charged for any excess water above their average usage. For more information and to apply, visit Council’s website.

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Free splash pad on hold

l INNISFAIL

l MOSSMAN | Nick Dalton FREE entry to those wanting to use the new splash pad at the Mossman pool is on the agenda of a future Douglas Shire Council meeting. The council has set charges for use of the entire pool area which gives all-day access to the amenities and kiosk, toddler pool, kid’s pool, free barbecue and picnic area, 50-metre pool, and the new splash pad. But a move to maintain current charges of a family day pass (four people) $15, adult $6, children aged three-12 years $5, children under 3 and spectators free was rejected by four of the council’s five councillors with Mayor Michael Kerr the only one in favour. The pad, plus another for Port Douglas, are funded by the council and $1.5 million from the Queensland Government. Cr Abigail Noli told last month’s council meeting that she wanted use of the splash pad to be free for all users under an “honesty system” with no obligations on staff to enforce the rules. She said she was happy for people to pay to use the other facilities but not the splash pad. Cr Kerr said pools were one of the most expensive facilities for the council to maintain. He said fees were required to

An artist’s impression of the Mossman splash pad which has yet to be completed. Pictures: Douglas Shire Council

recoup the cost of building and maintaining the pools. Cr Kerr said $15 for a family of four to have all-day access to all parts of the Mossman pool was not unreasonable. The pad has yet to open with Ergon still to upgrade the power supply required. A council report said the

PAGE 6 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024

splash pad was built within the fenced Mossman pool facility for security and amenity, “but this location presents challenges for the provision of free entry to the splash pad”. “Various options have been explored to enable free entry for families utilising the splash pad, including fencing the splash

pad from the rest of the venue, changing the fees and charges schedule to allow free entry to the pool precinct for all Douglas residents, or to allow free entry to the precinct for those only using the splash pad,” it said. “Each of these options would result in reduced services to patrons of the pool precinct

or a negative financial impact to council, or both. It is therefore recommended that council maintains the current fee structure and continues to allow patrons of the pool precinct to enjoy all of the various activities and services the venue currently provides, in addition to access to the new splash pad.”

CASSOWARY COAST has preserved another segment of its multicultural history after the donation of a Hmong story cloth to Cassowary Coast Library and Museum Services in Innisfail. Typically created in the refugee camps in Thailand, Story Cloths featured a unique pictorial representation of individual experiences, depicting the history and folklore of the Hmong people, pastoral life in the mountains of their homeland, as well as wartime and migrant experiences. It was donated by Juleanne Sweeney. The cloth, named ‘Escape from Laos’, is embroidered with an intricate cultural artwork depicting the Vietnam War. The piece was originally created by Innisfail resident Mrs Yong Yia Lor, during her time in a refugee camp during the 1980s. “‘Escape from Laos’ toured Australia in 1997 through major galleries around the nation to the High Court in Canberra and is featured in the James Cook University publication ‘Migrants from the Mountains,’” Mrs Sweeney said. “I bought it from Hmong embroiderers in Innisfail in the late 1980s, I’m pleased to see it on display at the Innisfail Library as an acknowledgement of an important event in the region’s history,” she said.

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Election jobs up for grabs l FAR NORTH MORE than 10,000 casual election official roles have opened for the local government elections in Queensland on March 16. Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen said election officials played a critical part on the frontline during elections, assisting millions of Queenslanders to have their say about who they wanted to represent them in their local communities. The thousands of casual roles on offer will cover work before, on, or after election day on March 16. He said applications were welcome from Queenslanders from all backgrounds and in all parts of the state. “The ECQ’s state-wide team of election officials are everyday Queenslanders from all walks of life,” Mr Vidgen said. “If you’re interested in helping to deliver democracy on the ground, and help people in your community to have their say, then one of these roles might be a great fit for you. “You’ll be paid for your work with us, have the opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills, all while getting the chance to see democracy in action.” Mr Vidgen said prospective applicants should visit the ECQ website to read more about what’s involved, including eligibility and political neutrality.

$325.5m water works

Contract for region’s largest capital project signed as budget blows out

A concept design of the $472m Cairns water security project. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

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l SOUTHERN CORRIDOR | Nick Dalton A PROJECT to ensure Cairns doesn’t run out of drinking water has blown out to almost $500 million with the regional council asking the federal and state governments for a further $250m for the region’s largest infrastructure project. Last month the council awarded the $325.5m design and construction of the $472m Cairns Water Security Stage 1 (CWSS1) Project to John Holland Queensland. The cost has blown out due to inflation, rising material and labour expenses. In 2022 the state and federal governments guaranteed $215m for the project. The design and construct contract is the major component of the project’s total capital cost of $472m, which includes costs already incurred or budgeted by the council, such as land acquisition and development of related business cases, and allowing for project risk contingencies. CWSS1 will draw water from the Mulgrave River at Gordonvale, and the existing Behana Creek supply, to be processed at a new water treatment plant before being delivered into the existing water reticulation network for supply to households and businesses throughout the region. Mayor Terry James said the

total capital cost was indicative of inflationary pressures caused by rising cost of living, skills shortages and scarcity of key materials. “We are certainly not alone. The cost of projects at both state and federal level have increased substantially,” he said. “Cairns Water Security Stage 1 is a must for the Cairns community. Without it, we will face a potential drinking water shortage by 2026. Cr James said the CWSS1 project was needed to service the growing population of Cairns, which had more than tripled since the region’s main water supply, Copperlode Falls Dam, was built in 1976. “Given the unprecedented flooding impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, I call on the federal and state governments to provide Cairns with significant disaster relief by increasing their CWSS1 project contribution to $236m each. At the last council meeting of the year Cr Amy Eden asked for an explanation about the $122m discrepancy between the design-and-construct cost of about $325m and the original project budget of $447m. Council acting director of infrastructure and assets Gary Everson said the $122m difference was due to other costs incurred by the council, including council’s own time, project management and any other contingencies.

Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024 PAGE 7

Town’s best-kept secret

Road under scrutiny

Babinda’s historic nursing quarters given $1 million makeover

l EDMONTON

l BABINDA

| Nick Dalton

THE Edmonton roundabout at Mt Peter and Mill Road has been labelled as one of the most neglected and dangerous intersections in Cairns by Steve Lippingwell, candidate for division 2 at the Cairns council elections in March. “The roundabout is under incredible pressure and has been for some time. The situation is not sustainable and quite dangerous,” he said. “Everyone who regularly uses the Edmonton turn-off from the highway knows the traffic pressure at this notorious bottleneck. “We have traffic from the highway, Mt Peter Road, Mill Street, Ravizza Drive and Armstrong Street all converging at one congested point. The roundabout is also a connector to the Edmonton Business District with shops, chemists, doctors, Piccones IGA and other services spread across both sides of the intersection.” Mr Lippingwell said he was also concerned for the safety of children from Hambledon Primary School. “The lack of a safe way for primary age school kids and residents to cross these very busy roads, especially in the morning and afternoons, has become a significant safety issue. Concerned parents have told me it’s a serious accident waiting to happen.” He said the council had a solution with the long-promised Chay Connection Road through to Walker Road, recently writing to residents with a vague commitment to starting on the road in the next three years.

MORE than $1 million has been spent giving Babinda’s historic nursing quarters a new lease of life. Fresh from its latest, threeyear restoration project, Babinda Quarters, which comprises eight artfully reprised guest and shared living rooms surrounded by tropical gardens, is open for business. The property was acquired by the late Margaret (Maggie ) Nelson in 2014 and she transformed it from a derelict building into an art deco guesthouse known as Babinda Quarters. Ms Nelson loved saving old art deco buildings and, over 40 years converted some of Far North Queensland’s best examples, starting with the conversion of an old hospital into Cairns Backpackers Inn along with Charleston House in North Cairns and the iconic Floriana guesthouse on Cairns Esplanade. Ms Nelson’s daughter, Kim Marsden, undertook the latest renovation of Babinda Quarters, reimagining it into a fresh iteration oozing creativity, character, and a good dose of quirk. Ms Marden said she had replaced five tiled bathrooms, repainted 16 of the 20 bedrooms, sanded and polished 13 bedroom floors and invested more than $1m. She said it was an ongoing project with plenty more to do with much of the costs associated with “under the bonnet expenses” involved in electrical and plumbing repairs. “The next big challenge for me is painting the exterior, which is the first thing Mum did

Kim Marsden enjoys the tranquility of the Babinda Quarters guesthouse she has restored. Picture: Veronica Sagredo, Blueclick Photography

when she bought it years ago,” Ms Marsden said. She said her mother’s penchant for rescuing old buildings was matched only by her love of music and entertaining guests. “This explains the Bernstein baby grand taking pride of

place in Babinda Quarters’ main lounge – along with many musical instruments from drums to guitars and the odd ukulele,” Ms Marsden said. “It has been a careful balancing act from embracing the building’s age and adding a

contemporary level of comfort. With crisp and colourful paintwork throughout, I have also renovated the bathrooms with contemporary fittings, albeit sympathetic to the art deco vernacular. “A pale pink clawfoot bath

and pale green tiles in the family room bathroom are a feature and case in point.” The rooms have been filled with works by local artists, including Ed Koumans, Julie Poulson, Ricky Beresford, and ceramic artist Karen Charlebois Clay Designs.

Douglas Shire transport depot approved with strict conditions l MOSSMAN | Nick Dalton A TRANSPORT company operating a depot at Mossman will be hit hard with penalties and fines of up to $12,000 if strict conditions are breached, a Douglas Shire Council meeting was told last month. The council has approved a material change of use for a transport depot

application for a rural property at 37 Splendour Rd, Mossman with 16 conditions, including hours of operation. The council deferred a decision earlier after there were concerns raised by councillors. Deputy mayor Lisa Scomazzon said it took a lot of convincing for her to approve the application after complaints by nearby residents. She sought assurances from the council that any future complaints

PAGE 8 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024

would be investigated and actioned. A council officer, Neil Beck, told the meeting that any complaints would be investigated and there was a range of enforcements that could be applied, including fines of up to $12,000. Mayor Michael Kerr said the conditions were designed to “protect residents”. Cr Peter McKeown said residents had complained that “a rural shed had

morphed into a large operation”. The conditions include hours of operation with the loading of trucks and transportation of material to and from the site not allowed before 6.30 am or after 6pm Monday to Friday, before 6.30 am or after 1pm on Saturdays and not on Sundays or public holidays. A council report said the development involved the depositing and collection of bulk materials primarily

used for local road construction works and the storage of associated vehicles and equipment. “The extent of materials held on the land varies from time to time depending on the projects being undertaken at the time,” it stated. “While the use is suitably located in a rural zone, it needs to be appropriately controlled so it does not detrimentally impact on the rural amenity of the area and the nearby sensitive land uses (dwellings).”

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Centacare’s ‘savvy’ program helps families with education needs

New bulk bill clinic opens

Getting back to school

l EDMONTON

l PARRAMATTA PARK

| Isaac Colman CAIRNS South Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is currently open to patients with urgent non-lifethreatening conditions, following Tropical Cyclone Jasper and devastating floods. Located on Edmonton’s Walker Road next to Balance Edmonton Family Practice, the urgent care clinic is open seven days a week, including public holidays. Previously open from 12pm8pm on weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends, the clinic is looking to extend its hours. While bulkbilling and offering walk-in care for patients, the clinic is a good option for nonlife-threatening conditions. In an effort to ease pressure on the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Emergency Department, the clinic treats urgent conditions such as minor infections and cuts, basic fractures, urinary tract infections and gastroenteritis. North Queensland Primary Health Network CEO Sean Rooney said the clinic would make it easier for both the community, and public health services. “We know there is a real need for an urgent care clinic in Cairns,” he said. “It is our priority to make sure residents have access to the primary health care they need, while also reducing pressure on the hospital’s ED.”

| Gail Sedorkin

TAFE Queensland teacher Paul Pardini from the Cairns campus gives student Brixton BamfordKnight, 10, a new look for the 2024 school year. Picture: Gail Sedorkin

THOUSANDS of students are expected to get “school savvy” with the help of Centacare FNQ this month. Getting kids back to school with all the gear at a fraction of the cost, Centacare FNQ’s School Savvy popup shop series kick started at Cairns Showgrounds this week, and will be open 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday until January 25. The School Savvy program aims to equip local children with the tools for success, such as supplying uniforms and stationery, and boosting confidence with back-to-school haircuts. Pop-up shops will also be open at Innisfail on Tuesday, January 16, in Atherton for the first time on Friday, January 19 and at Trinity Park on Wednesday, January 24. In January 2023, the program supported 1400 children and provided 93 haircuts, with this year’s figures expected to be higher with children relocated from communities, such as Wujal Wujal, needing supplies to attend Cairns schools. According to Centacare FNQ’s executive director Anita Veivers, the recent flood disaster and escalating cost of living had placed additional strain on families, making support from programs like School Savvy more crucial than ever. “We understand the challenges families face and are committed to easing the burden as much as possible,” she said. Speaking from the Cairns Show-

grounds on the opening morning on Monday, Centacare FNQ’s multicultural services manager Andrea Obeyesekere said she had spoken to many families from Wujal Wujal who couldn’t return home for the start of the school year. “They’ve been relocated to Cairns and will return eventually, but in the meantime Centacare FNQ and other services are supporting them,” she said. Launched in 2016 as part of Centacare FNQ’s Anti-Poverty Week program, School Savvy is an innovative, community-based program that ensures every child has uniforms, shoes, lunch boxes, backpacks, and stationery for the best start to the school year. Ms Obeyesekere said School Savvy was for all ages, from kindergarten to students starting university. “There are also other services and businesses here to help whole family become ‘savvy’ in areas including digital learning and financial planning. “We’ve even had some donations of laptops and chromebooks which we provide at a very small fee,” she said. Centacare FNQ’s School Savvy team is also urging the community to continue with their contributions to the program particularly school uniforms, shoes and backpacks. Donations can be dropped off at your local Vinnies, Centacare FNQ locations, or the Cairns Central Shopping Centre, Centacare Cairns Central Hub next to iPlay. For pop-up shop locations and opening hours visit https://www. facebook.com/schoolsavvyFNQ

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Clubs give back to community l EDGE HILL | Isaac Colman VOLUNTEERS from the Cairns Men’s Shed have lit up Christmas time for the unfortunate, after donating 20 handmade wooden toys to Edge Hill Bowls Club, as part of their Christmas appeal for flood victims. Just days before Christmas, the passing of Tropical Cyclone Jasper saw significant amounts of flooding, which led to high levels of property damage, injury, power outages and emergency evacuations. Countless volunteers and organisations chose to step up and support the local

toys left, we should donate them to the appeal.” Bowls club operations manager Lawrence Green said the toys were delivered to flood victims. “We decided to donate the toys to the Salvation Army, and they distributed the toys to many of the victims,” he said. Mr Green also expressed the gratitude he had towards the club community for assisting in the flood appeal. “It’s just really good to see our club community come together,(and) donate what they did, in such a short time frame.” Among the donations were meals from the club's kitchen.

community, with Edge Hill Bowls Club and Cairns Men’s Shed being just two of the many outstanding groups and people. As soon as it was possible, Edge Hill Bowls Club launched their Christmas appeal for flood victims. Cairns Men’s Shed and Edge Hill Bowls Club member Mike Wraith said the clubs were happy to help. “We make toys continuously during the year,” said Mr Wraith. “We sell them to raise money for the men’s shed, and any left we donate to charities. “As a member of the bowls club, I saw their appeal and decided to talk to my colleagues at the shed and tell them about the appeal and how since we had

Mike Wraith of the Cairns Men’s Shed and Edge Hill Bowls Club vice-president Ian Noble with the wooden toys at the bowls club. Picture: Nick Dalton

Families urged to watch for symptoms of highly infectious children’s disease

Whooping cough warning l FAR NORTH | Isaac Colman PARENTS and guardians are being urged to be on the lookout for highly infectious whooping cough after several cases in the Far North. Tropical Public Health Services are reminding parents to be aware of symptoms and to check their vaccination status after noticing a recent rise

in cases of whooping cough among young children. Tropical Public Health Services director Dr Richard Gair said whooping cough was a highly infectious illness that could cause uncontrollable coughing and difficulty breathing, particularly for children aged under one. “Since late November 2023, Tropical Public Health Services have been notified of seven cases in children under six

months of age and one case in a pregnant woman. This follows several months of no cases of whooping cough in the Cairns region,” he said. “While many of the cases have been from Cairns, cases in Mareeba and Yarrabah have also been reported. “With children returning to day care and school, parents should be on the lookout for symptoms and see a doctor if they are concerned.

“Our priority is to protect children under six months, as whooping cough can be much more severe in babies as they are not fully vaccinated yet. “Hospitalisation and deaths due to whooping cough mainly occur in babies less than 6 months of age. “Complications from whooping cough in babies can include pneumonia, seizures and brain damage. “The typical symptoms are

a persistent cough that may occur in bouts (often with a breathless ‘whoop’ at the end). It is spread by an infected person coughing or sneezing. “Someone with whooping cough is very infectious for the first three weeks of their illness, or until they have received a course of antibiotics, and they could pass the illness on to an infant or baby at home. “If your child develops a troublesome and persistent

cough, take him/her to your doctor promptly (even if they are fully immunised) and mention if he/she may have had contact with someone with whooping cough. “Immunity wanes over time, so even vaccinated people can get and transmit whooping cough, although the disease is usually less severe. “Staying home while infectious is also vital to preventing transmission.”

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l PORT DOUG LAS | Nick Dalto n WAYS to safely move at Port Dougl a roost Douglas Shire as are being investof flying foxes igated by The counc Council. the funding to il is applying for state act on compl well as develo aints about government p a long-t the roost ment plan for the region erm flying fox manag as At least six . ecomplained residents of the Lakes Estate have flying foxes to the council about the specta on the wester Road. cled n side of Old Port In a counc il report about the residents noise from bat droppi of the bats, the raised issues ngs, the expen risk of diseas running air e se their lifesty conditioners 24/7 andof cleaning and les. the damag “I can’t sleep e to because of one unnam the noise ed 24/7,” said daily. I have resident. The mess like a prison to lock myself in I have to clean my home er, still I can feeling said. hear them,” the resident “I can’t swim in my pool some horren l CAIRN in fear of S dous catchi diseas ture is ruined ng , everything e. My outdoor furniAsia (includ mess. It is | Nick Dalto is splattered affecti n land for threeing China and Japan) Douglas Shire ng my health, sendin with their G’DAY Austra and New g me mad.” Mayor Micha the destination days in October the proble Zeaketing event lia, a million-doll el for m Tourism Tropic and the Great and to experience training about local flying would protect the Kerr said fixing al North to kickstart in Cairns later this ar tourism marecutive Mark the tropica community fox popula fore and after Barrier Reef for thems the reviva year, is expect l north tions. “I have spoken and Olsen said Queensland chief visitor marke l of the region critica elves both ed exto many worried about t. The event the event. ’s international be- nation l to revitalising the G’Day Australia residents G’Day Austra was region’s lucrati al tourism who which is a (previously known asked counc living so close to marke ist travel agents lia involves bringi ve worth 20 partnership as ‘Corroboree’ flying foxes are per cent in t which was curren interia, Touris back into il to consider safely and ), m and Events between Tourism Europe (includ from the US and ng 300 specialtrees across terms of volum tly only “This nudgin will Austra g Tropic Canad the road,” them Cr Kerr said give it a massiv Queensland ing Germa e and l- worth he ny, France a, the UK, for the al North Queensland and Touris e boost … value. tect both the he wanted to create said. m said. millions of dollars Touris and Italy), first it will be bats a plan to proin advertising tralia since time in the city in 10 m, is being held “Spectacled and residents. value,” he years and 2019. “It will be flying-foxes in Ausour eco-sy an enormous play a vital national aviatio stem and shot role are seed disper n recovery.” in the arm for interCONTINUED sers of native efficient pollinators in ON PAGE “I would and trees,” he 2 a sensitive like to see this issue said. and safe from a trained manner underaddressed in ecologist supervision ...” • Full Week ly or Daily • Catering Care for 12 month • Vacation, s to Schoo Before and l Age • Great, after Schoo Safe Centr l Care al Location • All meals supplied • Qualified and nutrit chef ionist • CCS Approved Approved • Swim and • JET Payme Survival World PE nt Classes • Program Sports • Isand Box Technology Learning • Theatrical Safety Educa Adventure Classes • tion • Dance • Kindy Gym Environment MONDAY and Music al and • Qualified TO FRIDAY Classes • Natural teachers 6.00AM gardens • Kindergart 6.00PM • Natural en curric playgrounds ulum Call

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Vocal Local join our online debate In the last edition we asked the question: What do you think the priorities should be for new Tourism and Sports Minister Michael Healy? Here are some of your comments. Start doing some work instead of reaping the benefits of the gravy train. - Paul Butterworth, Facebook Should be out there getting his hands dirty, cleaning up. But we know that will never happen. - Dan Hammersley, Facebook If talking things the electorate and wider region actually needs, he’d need a wholly different portfolio. - Paul Spray, Facebook

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION What are your tips for parents and their children returning to school on January 22?

Paul Matthews, Freshwater

¡¡ ¡ ¡ Puji Fernando, DoorDash’s general manager for Australia

Flood relief for restaurateurs

Council meeting was ‘disgraceful’

Congratulations on the new role Michael. Steph Toy, Facebook

Get voted out as soon as possible? - Andrew Pincott, Facebook

Congratulations and thank you Michael. Mo Billy Mosby, Facebook

Who? - Brendon Jenkins, Facebook

Congratulations to all the newly appointed and sworn in ministers. Proud of our local member Michael Healy MP who is our new tourism and sport minister. Tej Man Monger Rayaka, Facebook

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£ ¢ ¥ ¦ Denis Walls, Community First mayoral candidate for Cairns

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2024 is the year that will change the social and economic landscape significantly, here and abroad. Good to see some of our leaders focused on the community in this context. Buckle up, it’s going to be beautiful. Chad Anderson, Facebook

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Gazza’s Gossip New Year … new start

Some normality for Port Douglas on New Year’s Eve.

Breakfast from 6am on Douglas FM 101.5FM l PORT DOUGLAS WELL firstly, Happy New Year to all readers. As we approached last year’s festive season, my last ‘Goss’ was a little more subdued than should have been expected for the time of year, mainly due to the visit of Cyclone Jasper and the subsequent floods. Since then, a massive clean up has taken place across the Douglas Shire in areas such as Mossman and Shannonvale. Others living in the area, particularly north of the Daintree River, are still continuing to get their lives back together. By the time New Year’s Eve arrived, locals and visitors to Port Douglas were able to enjoy what seemed like a fairly normal evening, despite further water stoppages effecting locals and businesses. Meantime, those businesses in Mossman lucky enough not to lose vital operational equipment, were able to muck out and get themselves back to doing what they do best, only hampered by some delays in supplies, due to the Captain Cook Highway being closed as a result of the landslides. Certain shops unfortunately remain closed, waiting to eventually clear out the dreaded brown silt left by the flood waters that measured some 30cm across many premises. The mud like substance seemed to penetrate just about every conceivable item it could get its mucky hands on. Businesses like cafes are, on the face of it, operating normally and providing a great service. In reality though, staff and owners function from makeshift back offices, still showing signs of the flood water’s damage. Mossman Support Services, whose very own offices were put out of action, hit the streets to drop off information and resource packs, hoping

to connect with people impacted in the community. It was a concern for them just how many people were sitting in their homes, barely coping and not knowing about help such as the recovery hub set up at Mossman Shire. Since identifying this, Lifeline and the Red Cross have also done some door knocking, making connections and checking on people’s mental health. As mentioned, the community recovery hub is set up at the Mossman Shire Hall and is open daily from 9am to 4pm. The hub has multiple support services, including assistance in applying for Queensland disaster recovery grants. Help is also on hand from Centrelink, Housing and the Red Cross, plus there is mental health support and some vouchers available to those eligible. Another service that may be of help is the free electrical check being offered by the Electrical Trades Union. This is available to people uninsured, pensioners and also not for profit organisations whose premises may have been impacted by the flash flooding. If your home has been deemed not safe to get power back on, they can also take a look at that. They can be called on 13 22 96 to register. It’s nice to finish on a positive note, this being that the Douglas Shire is very much open for business and welcomes visitors to come and enjoy this slice of paradise. As I write this, even the much damaged Daintree Village is welcoming tourists again. I’m off to give everyone a pat on the back for their efforts, so for now it’s Gazza signing out. Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au

Shop staff have been working hard to get back to normal.

The community recovery hub is providing a valuable daily service.

Mossman businesses are operational but still cleaning out the back.

Some Mossman shops are still waiting to re-open.

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And our volunteer co-ordinator will be in touch. PAGE 12 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024

Phone: (07)4093 83 86 Mobile: 0410 114 404 www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Health and Wellbeing Making men Red light gets go ahead feel better l CAIRNS CBD

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Mentor honoured with top award l FAR NORTH WELL Man chief executive officer Grant Westthorp has won the prestigious Jeff Cheverton Individual Award sponsored by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. For more than 15 years Mr Westthorp has contributed significantly to the health and wellbeing of men in Australia and specifically regional Queensland. He had a successful career as a golf professional for 33 years, travelling the world and totally committed to his profession. Then it all came tumbling down after a recreational accident. In one moment, he lost his livelihood, his identity, his physical capabilities, mental and social worlds were in a tailspin. The Well Man program provided his learnings and a pathway back to a vibrant life. His resources were developed

Grant Westthorp won an award for his work with men and boys.

in response to the real-life questions that men raised during the performance of 1250 presentations/workshops, 8000 wellness checks, 350 positive mentoring sessions and personally assisting 2798 men. “I am honoured to be acknowledged by my peers and over the moon with winning the Jeff Cheverton Individual

Award for my contribution to mental health and suicide prevention in Queensland,” said Mr Westthorp. “It is a wonderful recognition for the legacy I am leaving for boys, men and seniors in the great state I live in,” he said. The Well Man program reflects information, strategies, inspiration, practical tips and life skills gathered from his personal journey and from men that he had worked with and beside. Mr Westthorp designed and released the free Well Man app in 2018 to assist regional and isolated men. The app provides non-clinical information about physical, mental and social wellbeing. He has also written the 27 Steps to Manhood, a “rite of passage” for adolescent boys, The Men’s Life Promotion Survival Handbook, a guide to living your best version for men and Retirement and Beyond Handbook, a road map for senior men to get the most out of the end game.

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Wining and Dining

City wine bar’s UK heritage 800 award-winning brands to test palette of discerning connoisseurs l CAIRNS CBD | David Leith, FNQ FOOD THE Conservatory Bar is a little piece of England with an extensive wine cellar. Owner and curator of these fine premises, and equally fine wines, Ross Stevens makes no bones about his heritage, or the eclectic style of his wine bar. The Conservatory Bar – his first venture into ownership – is a cross between an Edwardian drawing room and Mayfair club snug. It oozes character and style, from the Chesterfield and dark oak function table to the black and white pictures, and wine maps, that adorn the dark painted walls. This, says Mr Stevens, is his front room, although it’s fair to say that whatever room it is, is merely a display case for the heart of the bar, which is the 800-strong, award winning wine list. Mr Stevens does not disguise his wine knowledge, which borders on the encyclopaedic. He speaks with a passionate fluidity about the language of the fermented grape, the regions of the world from which they hail, and the varietals that drive this fascinating and alluring trade. But even with all the wealth of understanding, he does not patronise or bore. He is inclusive and entertaining, and the dynamic centre of the bar’s many tasting evenings, evenings which pitch mock battles between wine cultures and countries or showcase vineyards, some wellknown, some obscure. A useful talent, as the awardwinning wine list at The Conservatory Bar boasts some 800 wines. These are not gender-neutral participation type awards, this is the ‘2-glass rating’ from the Australian Wine List of The Year in 2022, the wine bar equivalent of Michelin blessing your restaurant with stars. It is no small feat to bring such accolades to a little corner of the tropics, whose agriculture is, somewhat ironically, completely

Ross Stevens of The Conservatory Bar loves to share his love and knowledge of fine wines with his guests. Picture: Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

bereft of the grape. Like a lot of fanatics, Mr Stevens inherited his enthusiasm, stemming from his grandfather’s wine interest while growing up in the darkest west country in the quaint English market town of Honiton. As is the way with many young men from quiet country towns, the desire to leave overcame the comparative safety of a more certain future with the family business, instead, opening up a global trail of food, wine and wonder. Washing up on the shores of the Far North a decade ago, he was quick to exploit local hospi-

tality by employing an inclusive, attentive, hardworking attitude and, of course, his extensive wine knowledge, becoming the food and beverage manager at five-star resort at the comparatively tender age of 24. A decade later sees Mr Stevens at the helm of two bars, the first of these formerly mentioned is The Conservatory Bar, which for the last few years has provided a refuge for grown-ups to gather, converse and indulge in the Far North’s own tribute to Edwardian-style opulence and, of course, outstanding wine. More recently, the calm be-

neficence of The Conservatory Bar has gained a newer younger sibling, Sunset Bar, at the iconic Harbour Lights on the Trinity Inlet in Cairns. As is often the case with younger siblings, the venue is more rumbustious and turns its attention to the shaking and the making with an extensive and sophisticated cocktail list. The vibe is definitely more party, but again a place for the well-heeled to congregate and sip, no party jugs or balloon chasers here. Sunset Bar was the next piece of the puzzle for Mr Stevens, wine and food covered

with equal detail and intensity at his other venues; he felt there was space to turn his attention to the top shelf. “I wanted to take the same values we had in our other bars and create a high-end cocktail experience,” he said. “Like our wine list, the cocktails and spirits are curated to contain the best and most interesting we can find. Mr Stevens is also a firm advocate of the local beverage industry and although local beers and spirits feature in his other wine venues, they are inherently not the focus.

“Sunset Bar has given me a chance to showcase the fantastic distillers and brewers here in FNQ,” he said. All of our house spirits for cocktails, and all of our beers, are local. “Using local isn’t just keeping dollars here where they belong; we genuinely produce products that are world beating and can easily hold their own against the more familiar multinational brands.” Whichever Cairns venue you visit, you will be rewarded by a unique and upmarket experience.

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Wining and Dining

Hospitality venue dates back to 1870s when it was a crucial sugar shed

The Tin Shed typiﬁes Port l PORT DOUGLAS | Jodie Ferrero, FNQ FOOD IF there ever is a time to use the phrase, location, location, location, it is to describe this picture-perfect place ideally on Dickson’s Inlet in Port Douglas – The Tin Shed. With its seductive waterfront views out to Low Isles and the Coral Sea, and beyond to the magnificent Daintree rainforest, it is the heart and soul of the community. Steeped in history, this is a must-do on your next trip to Port Douglas. The Tin Shed story began in 1877 when it was built by the Divisional Sugar Board to store and load sugar, a major source of income for the town, for transport to Cairns. Consent was obtained in 1979 for the mooring facilities to be used by Port Douglas and District Boat Club members, who in return repaired and maintained the building. After securing a 30-year lease for the site in 2009, the site was extensively renovated and the name officially

The Tin Shed at Dickson’s Inlet. Below: Guests enjoying a seafood lunch. Pictures: Supplied

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two, a bona fide feast of Far North Queensland’s finest. The menu has something for everyone, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a great range of bistro classics, a children’s menu and even an afternoon snack board available seven days a week. All these at affordable prices for the entire family to enjoy. A favourite pastime for the locals is to catch up with mates at The Tin Shed, grab a bucket of fresh jumbo prawns straight off the boat along with an icy cold beer or cocktail, and watch the reef boats return at the end of the day – a perfect way to while away an afternoon in FNQ. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, live music adds to the ambience and the experience is even better. Above the bistro on the second level is The Bacardi Bar, an air-conditioned lounge with even more spectacular views. It has a range of beers and ciders on tap, and cocktails perfect for those balmy tropical days. The Tin Shed is a not-for-profit enterprise with the community at the core of everything they do.

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changed to Douglas Community and Sports Club Inc. Unofficially though, it has been affectionately called ‘The Tin Shed’ since the 1980s. Inside the community club you can still see the original sugar board building interior, proudly restored and displayed alongside the modern bistro setting. The talking point of the shed is the spacious, light and airy deck, complete with willowing shade sails. The quintessential Queensland veranda is nothing, if not alluring, and arriving here evokes an instant sense of relaxation as you settle in to enjoy the sea breezes and stunningly beautiful surrounding landscape over a beverage and a bite to eat. With proximity to the waterfront, fishermen bring their daily catch directly to the door for the chefs to prepare such fresh FNQ favourites as barramundi, coral trout, gold band snapper, nannygai, red emperor, and an array of delicious seafood options. Arguably the most impressive is their seafood tower for

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TimeOut

Cast to hit high notes

Six share three leading female roles in iconic Les Miserables show l CAIRNS CBD SHARING the three female leads in Cairns Choral Society’s hotly anticipated January 2024 season of Les Misérables, six Cairns actors are set to shine at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre. In the epic, grand and uplifting tale of Les Misérables, Eponine, Cosette and Fantine are the female characters delivering moving portrayals of love and loneliness, hope and happiness, dignity, and despair. Cairns Choral Society’s director of Les Misérables, Venera Walsh, said it was common practice in the musical theatre world to share lead roles. “When you have performers of equal talent audition, sharing a role is the obvious option,” she said. “Moreover, it gives our audiences a reason to come back and enjoy a slightly different perspective that is promised when two people play the same role,” Mrs Walsh said. “I am very proud of our exceptional talent and high standards of all our productions.” Eponine Ellie Dowling and Leticia Wardle are the two very talented performing artists who will share the lead role of Eponine. In preparing for her return to the musical stage after a few years’ hiatus, Ellie Dowling’s passion for acting and musical theatre has never been stronger and, throughout her life, has propelled her onto the stage, taking lead roles in many school, university, and regional theatre productions, including

Daniel Darveniza and Mathew Lowe.

Talented actors to ‘stun’ l CAIRNS CBD

Cosette played by Keely McKenzie and Melinda Steele in Les Miserables on stage next week. Pictures: Paul Furse, Frontrow Foto

Narnia, Into the Woods, Grease and Miss Saigon. Sharing the role with Ms Dowling is another seasoned performer, Leticia Wardle. The two form part of a love triangle with male leads Marius (a role shared by John Margetts and Finn George-Newman) and Cosette. Cosette Embracing the opportunity to test their vocal range in the shared role of Cosette are Melinda Steele and Keely Mc-

PAGE 16 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024

Kenzie. Singing since the age of eight with Cairns Young Voices and Opera Australia’s state honours ensemble program, Melinda Steele was honoured in 2018 to sing at the FFA Cup final and in the Australian Honours Ensemble and is looking forward to making her Cairns Choral Society stage debut. A dancer at Turning Pointe Dance Studios for 14 years, Keely McKenzie, was inspired to add singing to her performance repertoire after watching

the Cairns Choral Society production of Pirates of Penzance. Fantine The Cairns Choral Society’s production of Les Misérables is not the first time Yasmin Croghan and Erica George have shared lead roles, having done so previously for the parts of Elphaba and Nessarose in the Choral Society’s 2019 production of Wicked. The duo is primed to perform the role of working-class girl Fantine.

Originally from the Atherton Tablelands, Yasmin Croghan is a CQ University’s Music Theatre graduate who has performed with choirs and bands and as a soloist at many events in Cairns and interstate, while Ms George’s first production with Cairns Choral Society was in 2001, playing the role of Leisl in Sound of Music. Book now for Les Misérables at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) via www.ticketlink.com.au

THE world’s most iconic and longest-running musical returns to Cairns with a 10-show season of Les Misérables from next week. Featuring a 60-strong cast of talented locals, the musical will open on Friday, January 19 and close on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) – the fourth time it has been presented in Cairns by the choral society. Director Venera Walsh said “Les Miz promises stunning performances from our leads and cast members, including Daniel Darveniza, who is playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean”. Originally from Innisfail, Mr Darveniza studied classical voice at the University of Queensland. Over the years, he has been involved in musicals, operas, and oratorios. Mr Darveniza’s last performance with the Cairns Choral Society was as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. Newcomer Mathew Lowe also brings a wealth of experience to his portrayal of the ruthless Inspector Javert. He has performed operas in Melbourne, Sydney, and Dubai.

www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Time Out

Last days of summer holidays

Lots of things for children to do inside and outside throughout the region l THERE’S still 10 days before school goes back and there’s plenty for youngsters to do. ISAAC COLMAN has compiled just some of the activities to do. Drop in and build Unleash your imagination as you build, design, and experiment with a variety of blocks and sets. There are a range of activities at Cairns Libraries all over Cairns, so there’s sure to be one near you. Smithfield Library has a Block Bonanza event Saturday, January 20th, from 10:00am until 11:30am. From magnetic building kits to intricate geometric puzzles, Block Bonanza offers something for everyone. Cairns City Library is hosting the ‘Build your own LEGO town’ event on Wednesday, January 17th, from 10:00am until 11:30am. In this event you get to design and construct a miniature version of your hometown. Earlville Library is hosting the ‘Jumbo Creations’ event on Wednesday, January 17th from 10:00am until 11:30am. Here you will be able to use oversized building blocks for an unforgettable hands-on experience. Babinda Library hosts ‘Creative Construction’ on Friday, January 19th. Dive into a world of imagination and innovation and explore and build with Mobilo blocks by joining the geometric shapes with connectors to create exciting 3D shapes. For any additional information, visit the Cairns Libraries website at https://www.cairns.qld.gov. au/library Robots in the Library Held at Manunda Library on Thursday, January 18th from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Experience and learn how to code mini-Sphero’s and Cubetto robots in the library. These Discovery kits will be available over the counter at request to use in the library. Booking is not required, entry is free. For more information, call Manunda library on 4044 3779 or for all library visit https://www. cairns.qld.gov.au/library School holiday Circus workshops CYCAS Circus workshops run every holidays to keep them entertained while developing their concentration, coordination, and communication skills. Circus strengthens their gross motor skills and encourages a love of physical activity and learning. For more information and to see times and cost, visit https://cycascircus.com.au/school-holidays/ Cairns Wake Park Kids Club Cairns Wake Park is Tropical North Queensland’s one and only Cable Water Ski park. Kids club sessions, suitable for children 7-12 years old, run on Saturday mornings and extra days during school holidays. These classes are specifically designed to be an easy learning environment for younger kids. These sessions are ideal

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Holiday programs and Come and Try days that teach SUP skills, technique and much more. For more information, visit https://www.whatsupcairns.com.au/ South Cairns Gymnastics Club South Cairns Gymnastics Club offers various holiday programs for kids age 2-12, including skill Development Classes and Ninja programs. Bookings are essential. To book or find more information, visit https://www.gymsportsfnq.com. au/bookings/holiday-booking/

for children to learn the basics of kneeboarding and wakeboarding. Experienced operators and coaches are on hand, the cable runs slower and buggy pick ups from the far corners make it much more likely for our younger riders to achieve. For more information, visit https://www.cairnswakepark.com/wakepark Cassowary Coast Libraries Cassowary Coast Libraries is pleased to present its lineup of summer school holiday activities. The free activities for kids of all ages are being held across all library locations including Innisfail, Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell. The summer schedule includes traditional arts and craft including papier mâché and oil slick art, and ‘Design your Dream Place’ craft. Kids will also be encouraged to explore their digital design skill with Canva calendar-making workshops and get wild with Roaming Wild Animal Encounters. Movies will feature on the big screen at Innisfail and Cardwell libraries, and young historians are invited to ‘Follow the Heritage Trail’ at Cardwell Museum and Heritage Precinct. Bookings are essential. To see the full line up of activities and movie features please go to https://cassowarycoast.qld. gov.au/libraries or call 1300 366 616. Cairns Ice Skating Rink Cairns Ice Skating Rink is proud to announce that school holiday sessions are on. Sessions are running 7 days from 9:30am to 11:00am, 11:30am to 1:00pm, 1:30pm to 3:00pm, 3:30pm to 5:00pm Prices are based on age group. 15 years & over $23, 14 years & under $20, 0 years to 4 $10 Tobogganing is also available at the price of $5 for 4 slides. We are located at DFO Cairns, next to TK Maxx. No bookings are required, just turn up to a session time, but remember to bring long socks! For more information, including pricing, visit www.cairnsiceskatingrink.com.au Off Camber Mountain Biking Kids’ MTB Skills Clinics are for kids aged from 7–15. These clinics and holiday programs are fun skill development sessions. Both beginner and intermediate groups are run at

the same time. Clinics include learning the basics using games, teamwork and lots of fun. Held at Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park, we offer high-quality mountain biking instruction that builds the rider’s foundation skills and confidence and advances technical skills safely. Our programs have fun-filled activities, skill progressions, and exploration of nature. Off Camber offers Weekly lessons as well as weekend MTB skill clinics. For more information, call Off Camber Mountain Biking on 0427 733 967 or email at info@offcamber.com.au Jamie Gosling Football Academy Fancy getting your children out of the house these holidays, where they will learn soccer skills, make new friends, participate in competitions and have fun? This is just the place for you. The popular soccer clinic sessions combine the perfect amount of technical training, with fun games and matches. They offer a range of mini competitions and prizes that are sure to put smiles on all of our player’s faces. Their groups are split by age group, allowing for similar skill and ability in each group. Clinics and sessions are held at 84-100 Wistaria St, Holloways Beach. For more info and to register, visit https://jgfa. com.au/clinics-enrol/ or call Jamie on 0450 181 626. Go Bowling Cairns We have teams for children, teens, adults, seniors and also people with a disability and we offer free learn to bowl sessions if you need a few tips to get you started. Go Bowling Cairns is hosting many school holiday specials, including kids happy hour and great family deals. Open 7 days a week, the bowling alley has 20 bumper lanes with fully automatic scoring as well as a café, bar and even amusement machines. To find the best deals, book your lane online at https://buff.ly/2TLnr01 or call 40533497 Standup Paddleboarding What’SUP is a program aimed for kids aged from 8 -16. Standup paddleboarding offers School

AP Cricket Academy Wanting your kids to be productive these school holidays? Get your young ones out having fun and socialising with other like-minded young athletes, motivating them to improve their overall game. Held at Endeavour Park, AP Cricket Academy hosts school holiday programs that will keep your child both productive as well as exercising. For more information, phone 0400 979 795 or email andrewphelps14@gmail.com Cairns International Tennis Centre This holidays, Cairns International Tennis Centre is offering all-day holiday programs to help kids stay active. Aimed at kids between the ages of 5 and 15, Cairns International Tennis Centre (next to Tobruk Pool on Sheridan St) offers high-quality tennis courts as well as wet weather facilities, an air-conditioned room and even full insurance with first aid trained staff. Contact head coach, Wayne Fielder on 0421 200160 or baselinetennis@gmail.com Mount Sheridan Plaza Dance School Learning to dance is a great way to help children get accustomed to the way their body moves through space, and improve balance, concentration, and memory skills – plus it’s lots of fun! Come to our Dance School Sign-Up at Mt Sheridan Plaza on the weekend of January 13 and 14 and meet staff from multiple local dance schools to see what’s on offer, view class timetables, membership prices and other useful information. For more information, visit https://mtsheridanplaza.com.au/event/dance-school-sign-up/ Roaming Wild at Earlville Shopping Town Join us from 10am to 1pm, Saturday 13th January and get up close and personal to all the animals. Bring the kiddies and take some photos with Roaming Wild’s amazing animals – an experience which will be hard to forget! For more information, visit https://earlvilleshoppingtown.com.au/ DFO Cairns – Wiz Kids Watch the big screen, answer questions, and win awesome prizes. Hosted by the hilarious Mr. Muddlehead, it’s the perfect mix of education and entertainment. Children can come and go as they please. Our daily two-hour activity, “Inspiring Minds,” brings the perfect blend of entertainment and learning through a thrilling digital trivia and gameshow experience. To register now, visit https://shorturl.at/hwHU9

Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024 PAGE 17

Time Out

SAT 3 FEB

Salsa dancers Alexandra Adamekova, Jose Martinez, Nora Pagett, Joe Jose, Laita Nozaic and Max Mackenzie. Picture: Jose Martinez, Sabor Dance Company

FRI 9 FEB

Salsa competitors bring medals home

World-class dancing acts l MANUNDA | Gail Sedorkin CAIRNS can now boast two champion dancers following their recent wins at the Latin dance World Salsa Solos competition in Brisbane. Competing alongside hundreds of dancers from around the world, Maxwell Mackenzie and Julie Bartlett wowed the judges at the World Salsa Solos, scoring second and third places in their categories. Mr Mackenzie and Ms Bartett placed second in the masters division, while he placed third in masters for his solo performance, with both dancers representing Sabor Dance Company. Sabor owner and coach Jose Martinez is justifiably proud of all 12 of his students who competed and performed in Brisbane. “Max has only been dancing for about one year, and Julie has been dancing for about three years and competing for the last

two, so I am 100 per cent proud of them,” Mr Martinez said. “I am very proud of every one of my students and this is a very good result,” he said. “They all worked very hard for this, in what are highly contested divisions. “It’s really tough in the masters division (over 40), and the amateurs (under 40) are incredible athletes.” Mr Martinez said the amateur dancers from Sabor had already started preparing for the next major competition in November, to give them time to develop their fitness and discipline, and to get used to a routine. “The more seasoned dancers will start preparing about June, but it all means lots of hard work,” he said. Hundreds of dancers from Australia and throughout the world competed and performed in Brisbane including from Italy, Asia, New Zealand, and special guests from Mexico and Spain. Mr Martinez said the competi-

FRI 16 FEB

tions were open to any country in the world, and while numbers had been smaller with COVID-19, last year saw competitor numbers picking up again. “They always bring Latino dancers over as well to the world competitions which are hosted in different countries throughout the year,” he said. While 12 students competed and performed from Sabor Dance Company, more than 20 students from Sabor attended to support the team and to participate in social dancing and workshops. Mr Martinez started Sabor in 2006. He teaches salsa and bachata, with private lessons also available in merengue and cha cha cha. Salsa is a rhythmic Latin dance with its origins in Cuban culture. Sabor Dance Company currently features almost 50 students.

FRI 23 FEB

FRI 1 MAR

For more information visit www.facebook.com/ Sabordancecompany/

SAT 2 MAR

tanksartscentre.com 9-11 Florence Street, Cairns |

PAGE 18 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024

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WHAT’S ON

For more events visit cairnscalendar.com.au

SCHOOL SAVVY @ CAIRNS SHOWGROUNDS l FRI JAN 12, 10:00AM-2:00PM

Centacare FNQ will hold its School Savvy back to school pop up shops in five locations across Cairns and the Far North during January 2024. The initiative is to lessen the financial load of back to school expenses for families doing it tough. Dates: From 8 to 24 January Times: Monday to Friday – 10am to 2pm Pop up shops will also be held at Trinity Park, Edmonton, Innisfail and Atherton. For more information visit the Centacare FNQ website.

ECSTATIC DANCE CAIRNS @ THE TANKS l FRI JAN 12, 7:00PM-9:30PM

No words, no phones, no booze, just dance! Typically we dance without shoes too; however clean indoor shoes or socks are welcome and allowed at our Tank 3 venue if you need. An intentional, clean vibe space where music is curated by a live DJ played on a high fidelity sound system. A container to be yourself, without judgement while getting down to fresh global beats from worldclass and emerging ecstatic dance DJs. All adults welcome! Cost: Tickets $33 via Ecstatic Dance website.

ROAMING WILD @ EARLVILLE SHOPPING TOWN

GIG Guide *Please check with the Venues regarding any cancellations or entry requirements.

FRIDAY Dunwoody’s Hotel Bobby Maguire, 4:00pm Mountainview Hotel Kim Settle, 6:00pm Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Peter Kinch, 6:30pm Cazaly’s Cairns Hot Ice, 6:30pm Brothers Leagues Club Innisfail Infinity Duo, 7:00pm Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino Chasing Waterfalls, 9:00pm

l SAT JAN 13, 10:00AM-1:00PM

Join us and get up close and personal to all the animals with Roaming Wild at Earlville Shopping Town. Bring the kiddies and take some photos with Roaming Wild’s amazing animals. An experience that will be hard to forget! For more info visit Earlville Shopping Town’s website.

CAIRNS TAIPANS @ CAIRNS CONVENTION CENTRE l SAT JAN 13, 4:30PM-7:00PM

Get along and support your CQUniversity Cairns Taipans at their Home Game at the Cairns Convention Centre.

SATURDAY NOA Edge Hill Steve Williams, 3:15pm Cazaly’s Cairns Big Jim, 6:30pm Red Beret Hotel The Joker Pokers, 8:00pm Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino The Rockmans, 9:00pm

See your CQUniversity Cairns Taipans take on the Adelaide 36ers! Cost: Tickets from $28.00 Book your tickets now through the Orange Army website. For more information visit the Orange Army website.

DANIEL WALLWORK @ CAIRNS ART GALLERY l FRI JAN 12, 9:00AM-5:00PM

Daniel Wallwork is a Cairns-based artist who was born in Brisbane, Queensland in 1975. He works across a range of media, including sculpture, street art, multi-media and illustration. Exhibition Runs: until 14th January 2024 Entry: Free Entry For more information please visit the Cairns Art Gallery website.

SUNDAY Dundee’s at the Aquarium DjGlennW, 11:30am Yorkeys Knob Boating Club Janna Mercedes, 3:00pm Elixir Music House 8 Ball Aitken, Jessy Lynch & Jax Bee, 3:00pm Bar36 Reef Hotel Casino The Rockmans, 7:30pm

Photographer: Anna Rogers, Cairns Art Gallery

MELANIE HAVA @ CAIRNS ART GALLERY l FRI JAN 12, 9:00AM-5:00PM

Melanie Hava was born in Mount Isa, Queensland. After spending time in Austria with her father’s family she returned to Cairns to be close to her mother’s country where she feels at home and at one with the spirits of the rainforest. Exhibition Runs: until 18th February 2024 Entry: Free Entry For more information please visit the Cairns Art Gallery website. Photographer: Ana Rogers, Cairns Art Gallery www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Are you a venue or an artist that wants to be listed in the Gig Guide? Complete the form on www.cairnslocalnews.com.au/gig-guide to submit your gig each week to be listed in Friday’s paper.

Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024 PAGE 19

Take a minute... Puzzles for you Friday 12th Max 28o Min 24o

Tide Times 0306 0.26 1004 3.28 1606 1.11 2138 2.35

Saturday 13th Max 29o Min 24o

Tide Times 0351 0.30 1047 3.27 1653 1.13 2226 2.29

Sunday 14th Max 28o Min 25o

Tide Times 0437 0.44 1131 3.17 1744 1.18 2320 2.19

SUDOKU

Monday 15th Max 30o Min 25o

Tide Times 0526 0.68 1219 2.99 1842 1.23

MEDIUM #167

Wednesday 17th Max 32o Min 25o

Tide Times 0027 2.08 0618 1.00 1314 2.76 1959 1.25

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

EASY #167

Tuesday 16th Max 31o Min 24o

Tide Times 0155 2.01 0725 1.35 1421 2.52 2134 1.18

WORD SEARCH

Barnacle Bay Beach Cape Clam Crab Ebb tide Hang five

Weekly Horoscopes CROSSWORD Taurus

Gemini

Mar 21 to Apr 20

Apr 21 to May 20

May 21 to Jun 21

Love can be yours if you get out and about. Put your energy into self-improvement programs that promise to make you into a better you. Sign up for seminars that will expand your business awareness. Develop some of your good ideas.

Good day for romance. Children could cost you more than you can afford. You will find that you can work progressively at improving yourself this week. Your creative talent will prove to be lucrative if put to proper use.

You can make money through your creative efforts. Things aren’t as they appear. You can make personal changes that will enhance your appearance and bring about greater social activity. Get promises in writing or you will be disappointed.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Jun 22 to Jul 22

Jul 23 to Aug 22

Aug 23 to Sep 22

Be careful not to push your luck or take too much for granted when dealing on either a personal or professional level. Put your efforts into job advancement. You need to fulfill your needs and present your talents. Compromise may be necessary.

The existing problems must be dealt with one way or another. New friendships will develop through group events. Don’t promise to deliver the goods if you aren’t positive that you can meet the deadline. You should be able to get involved in an interesting proposition this week.

You could be attracting individuals who are anything but good for you. It’s time to reevaluate your motives. This will be a very hectic day if you’ve made promises to too many people. Focus on using your creative abilities in other ways.

Libra

Scorpio

Sagi arius

Sep 23 to Oct 22

Oct 23 to Nov 21

You can bet that you’ll draw attention to yourself. Difficulties with female members of your family may result in estrangement’s. Try not to make waves. Pushy people must be kept at arm’s length.

Make arrangements to spend quality time together. You are best to stick to yourself this week. You’ll be dropping friends for no apparent reason. Don’t let friends or relatives rule your life.

Capricorn

Aquarius

Hat Kayak Lake Low tide Pelican Pier Rashie Rest

Sail Sand Sea star Seagull Shark Shell Ship Shore

Snacks Sunscreen Surf Swim fins Tan Trip Water bottle Wet

moderation (8) 21. a thin fold of skin that covers and protects an eye (6) 23. an economic system where private businesses can have ownership of capital goods (10) 24. an insulting remark intended to make someone look foolish (4) 25. a size of book page that results from folding each printed sheet into eight leaves (6) 26. a chemical element with symbol Eu and atomic number 63 (8) DOWN

Nov 22 to Dec 20

Communications with loved ones may be strained. You will enjoy events that lean toward theatre, art, or music this week. Keep busy and let them fume while you’re not around. Your emotions will be touched off concerning recent encounters with your lover.

Pisces

Dec 21 to Jan 19

Jan 20 to Feb 18

Feb 19 to Mar 20

It might be best to keep your ideas to yourself this week. Opportunities to upgrade your living standards will come through your lover or through joint financial investments. Make sure that you get legal matters checked out thoroughly. You may be confused emotionally.

You will benefit by taking care of other people’s concerns. You may cause a fuss if you come on too strongly in public. Heart to heart talks will clear up vague issues. Travel should be on your mind.

You need to do something that will make you feel better about yourself. You will be in the doghouse if you are being. You will do well with clients this week. Escapist tendencies will result in a poor reputation and a lack of confidence.

PAGE 20 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024

Tide Times 0352 2.10 0925 1.60 1544 2.33 2243 1.04

HARD #167

Solutions Aries

Thursday 18th Max 33o Min 26o

ACROSS 7. someone that assumes false identity or title for the purpose of deception (8) 9. a person through whom a deity is believed to speak (6) 10. an apparatus for making fabric by weaving yarn or thread (4) 11. one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada (4,6) 12. an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something (6) 14. a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who is usually a president (8) 15. a fast-flowing and turbulent part of the course of a river (6) 16. a herb grown for its small oval seeds and its oil (6) 19. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or

1. having a flat, even surface, not rough (6) 2. a part or division of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling (4) 3. a level of quality or attainment (8) 4. idle talk or rumor (6) 5. a very thin, sharp blade (10) 6. a supporter of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair or his policies (8) 8. to feel deep respect or admiration for someone or something (6) 13. involving or having the support of both sides, especially of political parties (10) 15. creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge (8) 17. always in the future (8) 18. an inquest before members of a jury or assessors (6) 20. a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled (6) 22. to stain, especially with blood (6) 24. to be or become wide open (4) www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Real Estate

Facing up to growing older

Huge numbers of retirement villages required for nation’s ageing population

l SPECIAL REPORT | Nick Dalton THE Retirement Living Council (RLC) is calling for a renewed focus on retirement villages as a key housing solution to cater for Australia’s ageing population following the release of fresh ABS figures. The ABS’s latest national population figures reveal that the fastest growing age cohort is between 75 and 79 years old. RLC executive director Daniel Gannon said Australia’s three tiers of government needed to address and solve the challenges associated with housing this demographic cohort now. “With an annual growth rate of 6.6 per cent, the 75–79-year-old age group significantly out paces all other demographics with an overall growth rate of 2.4 per cent,” he said. “Over the next two decades, the number of Australians over 75 will increase from two million to 3.4 million people, which will have socio-economic impa-

A couple enjoy the relaxed lifestyle of a retirement village of which many more will be needed to house the growing older cohort. Picture: iStock

cts on the nation.” Mr Gannon said governments needed to better understand the potential benefits of injecting more supply of age-friendly communities into the market.

“Retirement villages across the country save the commonwealth government a billion dollars every year as Australia’s population continues to rapidly age,” he said. “They achie-

$315,000

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“All of this reduced interaction with doctors and hospitals releases capacity back into health systems for those who need it most, when they need it most. “Encouraging and facilitating

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ve this through better designed homes that minimise trips and falls, which means residents can experience fewer visits to the GP, shorter hospital stays and delayed entry to aged care.

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COUNTRY LIVING

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Land Area 1.05 Ha

Land Area 1 Ha

6 Great opportunity for extended family or live in one and rent the other.

This very special Semiset Home located on 1.05 Ha of land, Surrounded by enchanting country views. • Open plan living and Security screened windows • A huge sunroom and a long ramp access • Approximately 10 minutes’ drive to innisfail CBD

• House 1 – 3 bedroom, 1 bath, entertainment area. • House 2 – 2 bedroom, 1 bath, renovated kitchen. • Machinery shed 12.2m x 13.6m x 2.9m high and attached skillion 7.8m x 13.6m x 2.9m high

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www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

more seniors into retirement communities carries the added benefit of freeing up traditional housing stock for singles, couples, new and growing families. “As the country faces a rapidly ageing population and an ongoing housing crisis, retirement living construction activity levels are forecast to continue to lead the way in Australia in 2024. “There is a planned supply pipeline of 18,000 retirement dwellings across Australia, which if successfully delivered could reduce the national housing gap by approximately 18 per cent to 2030. “However, if industry wants to keep pace with current market penetration of over-75s, we will need an additional 49,000 units over and above what is currently in the pipeline. This could see a 67 per cent reduction in the national housing shortage. There is still much uncertainty across all property sub-sectors, with construction prices, materials and labour continuing to drive uncertainty.”

• Fenced area & shelter for livestock. • 5kw Solar System and bore. • Sale includes Air compressor 2.5hp, 36 litres and a Rover ride on lawn mower

List #1659

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Contact Kylie on 0428 944 563

Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024 PAGE 21

Motoring Aussies’ love affair with utes showed no bounds in 2023 with three in top 10

Ranger top of pops for Ford l NEWS | Nick Dalton

The Ford Ranger ute was the best seller in Australia last year – 63,356 were sold, 2245 more than Toyota HiLux.

PAGE 22 Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024

BUYERS have broken all records with a total of 1,216,780 vehicles delivered during 2023 – tens of thousands more than the last top selling year in 2017 (1,189,116). Toyota was the top selling car brand with 17.7 per cent of the market while the top selling vehicle was the Ford Ranger (63,356). SUVs and light commercials accounted for 78.4 per cent of sales and comprise all the top 10 vehicles sold in 2023. Ranger sales totalled 63,356 for 2023 versus 61,111 for the HiLux, making the ute the first Ford sales champion in Australia since the Falcon in 1995. The Isuzu D-Max was third (31,202), followed by Toyota RAV4 (29,627), MG ZS (29,258), Tesla Model Y (28,769), Mitsubishi Outlander (24,283), Mazda CX-5 (23,083), Hyundai Tucson (21,224) and Toyota Prado (20,710). Toyota was first overall with 215,240, followed by Mazda 100,008, Ford (87,800), Kia (76,120), Hyun-

dai (75,183), Mitsubishi (63,511), MG (58,346), Tesla (46,116), Subaru (46,114) and Isuzu Ute (45,341) Queensland continued its love affair with utes, with four models appearing in the top eight of the state’s rankings – headlined by a sweep of the first three spots by the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max (which has its head office in Brisbane). In Queensland 15,635 Toyota HiLuxes were sold followed by Ford Ranger (12,715), Isuzu D-Max (8100), Tesla Model Y (6373), MG ZS (6168), Toyota Prado (6016), Toyota RAV4 (5739), Mazda BT-50 (5612), Mitsubishi Outlander (5399) and Hyundai Tucson (4470) Ford Australia president Andrew Birkic said there were “so many people who play a role in the success of a vehicle”. “For Ranger, that’s our team of designers, engineers and everyone at Ford who pours their passion into making the vehicle what it is, our dealers who are passionate about serving their customers and communities, and ultimately our Ranger customers whose passion for their vehicle is what gets us up in the morning,” he said. CONTINUED PAGE 23

www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Motoring Guide

The GWM Cannon-XSR dual-cab 4WD ute sits at the pinnacle of the Chinese brand’s range.

Customer Ty Fenwick said Ranger was worthy of the top spot. The motocross track builder and offroad content creator ordered his Raptor right after the global reveal and has driven it 17,000km this year. “Every time I get in this thing it puts a big smile on my face – from the Fox shocks it comes with as standard, to the V6 twin turbo with plenty of power. It’s just awesome,” he said. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 7.2 per cent of sales with combined battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles achieving 196,868 sales or 16.2 per cent of new vehicle sales. FCAI chief executive Tony Weber said the record-breaking achievement underscored the dynamic and competitive nature

of Australia’s automotive landscape, providing consumers with an extensive array of choices across various price brackets. “This extraordinary result is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of both industry players and consumers alike. Despite the supply chain disruptions faced in recent times, consumers now have greater access to a broad range of choices, fostering increased accessibility in the market,” he said. Mr Weber said the FCAI was optimistic that the federal government would act and introduce a Fuel Efficiency Standard that achieved the policy outcomes that led to emission reductions while enabling Australians to drive the vehicles that they needed and wanted. “For more than a decade, the FCAI has been encouraging governments to introduce a Fuel

irn s

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Efficiency Standard. Now we have the process underway it’s critical that the federal government takes time the to get it right. That is essential for environmental outcomes and for consumers. “This is a tremendously exciting time for the industry. “Consumers have a wide choice of vehicles available to meet their work, recreation and family needs that come equipped with the latest advancements in engine technology, safety features and advanced driving, navigation and entertainment aids. “As we celebrate this historic achievement, we recognise that the automotive sector will face challenges in the coming months. “Cost-of-living pressures and increased interest rates will impact the market, and we anticipate a challenging 2024.”

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FROM PAGE 22

Mazda’s BT-50 4WD dual-cab ute was the Japanese maker’s best seller in Queensland.

GOODYEAR AUTOCARE CAIRNS NOW OPEN! Cairns’s newest family owned tyre store... WE ARE HERE

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Corner Sheridan & Florence Sts, Cairns | (07) 4026 4121 www.cairnslocalnews.com.au

Cairns Local News, Friday, January 12, 2024 PAGE 23