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NEWS
Cairns Local News
BRIEFS
CASSOWARY COAST
Division 6 hangs in the balance
Renee McLeod Division 6 candidate PETER MCCULLAGH THERE is usually a collective sigh of relief when an election campaign concludes. Voters feel a sense of release from the constant social media bombardment as well as the urban pollution caused by hundreds of candidate’s signs. The candidates face an agonising period of uncertainty as votes are tallied and the result becomes clearer. Voters turned out in Innisfail last Saturday for the Division 6 By-election to appoint a replacement for ex-councillor Kylie Farinelli. A large field contested this election. Seven candidates nominated. Preliminary counting along with first preference allocation has commenced with more than 2,300 votes counted. Two candidates were clear runners to take the division. Cassowary Coast Regional Council employee, Harry Tenni is locked in a tight tussle with Innisfail businesswoman Renee McLeod. McLeod holds a slender lead of 115 votes over Tenni. The remainder of the field are scattered behind, in some cases polling a few as family and close friends. The election was not without spite, with several candidates targeting Tenni and attempting to blacken his reputation as a Council employee. One social media group, acting as a campaign broadcaster for two candidates posted constantly urging vot-
ers to cast their vote in favour of their chosen candidates. Front runner Renee McLeod in her first campaign felt that overall, it was a rather ‘dirty’ campaign conducted through social media. “In the end residents voted for someone local, that they will see at the local shops on the weekend. Someone accessable and someone they can see and speak to when they have an issue. “Obviously all the votes are not counted, so I will not count my chickens until they hatch, but I’m excited,” she said. East Innisfail resident Harry Tenni, contesting the division for the second time, after he finished runner-up to Kylie Farinelli, who resigned forcing the by-election was disappointed with the result. “In the end, it’s not your skill or knowledge, it’s a popularity contest. “I’ve been in Council for 10 years and can see what needs to change. “The community is not getting what they pay for, why are we paying for more executives, when we need more ground workers,” he said.
RESULTS: 6am Wed July 21 Renee McLeod Harry Tenni Barry Anderson Paul Toogood Wayne Kimberley Antonino Ucchino John Hutchinson
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Friday July 23, 2021
Douglas throwing open their gardens
PETER MCCULLAGH
GREEN thumbs and novice gardens are busy weeding, planting fertilising and tending their food gardens in readiness for the annual Open Gardens Douglas Shire event. A dozen of Douglas’s best food gardens will be showcased over the weekend of August 14 and 15 this year. Residents from Wonga, Cooya, Mossman, Cassowary, Oak Beach and Port Douglas will be opening their gates for the event, taking guests on a journey of discovery and inspiration through their gardens as tips and tricks are shared, and innovative practices showcased. Founder of Open Gardens Douglas Shire, Monika Prins encourages everyone to get involved and get inspired. “Roll up your sleeves, be prepared to get grubby, and get out there and give it a go – there’s nothing more satisfying than growing and harvesting your own food.” With a garden so plentiful, diverse, and thriving with beauty and function, you could be fooled into be-
lieving that Monika has been gardening her whole life. Yet the former dive instructor and relative newcomer runs her own biodynamic garden on her acre block in Mossman, and she has a message for everyone, “start somewhere.” “It’s fascinating to learn how everything is interconnected – by making the most of nature’s eco-system, putting in a bit of effort, and embracing the principle that everything has a purpose, you can get incredible results in your own backyard,” says Monika. Douglas Shire Mayor Mi-
CEO, Nicky Swan is thrilled to be supporting the community event. “Douglas has a very diverse horticultural and agricultural community – there’s so much knowledge and passion in the Shire. Yet for those new to gardening, the thing that really destroys people’s interest is not having success. The Open Gardens event is a very special opportunity to visit private gardens and learn from others about what works – come and talk to these gardeners about how to make your own mulch, how to grow a fruit tree, how chael Kerr said Council is de- to harvest for the season, lighted to support the event, how it doesn’t have to be all “Monika and the team at neatly manicured.” Open Gardens DougOpen Gardens have done a wonderful job in preparing for las Shire is presented by Biodynamics FNQ Inc and this event. It’s a great opportunity for supported by Douglas Shire the community to learn and Council and Mossman Bobe inspired by what locals are tanic Garden. The event is open to the doing to grow sustainable garpublic and has a $10 entry dens. If you are even remotely fee. Registration is essential interested in growing fruit and and guests are encouraged veg at home, then I encourage to pre-register. If you are a green thumb you to join in, learn some tips and tricks, and explore some and interested in volunteerof the most incredible gardens ing for the event, please contact Monika Prins on in Douglas.” Mossman Botanic Gardens prinsmo@outlook.com
Boat ramp tender opens Understory Film Festival TENDERS for the new $17 million Yorkeys Knob Boat Ramp have been released, with Transport and Main Roads (TMR) set to award construction contracts in coming months. Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the tender meant shovels were closer to getting into the ground for Cairns boaties after years of planning and consultation. “With all the necessary approvals now secured, we’re looking to progress construction as quickly as possible. “There has been a lot of work to get the project to this point, and I would like to thank Cairns Regional Council (CRR), Half Moon Bay Golf Club, Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, Yorkeys Knob residents, businesses and local boaties for all their valuable input.” Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the council had set aside $2 million this financial
year and an additional $1.5 million in the following year to support the critical project. “This is a much-needed facility for the northern beaches and one that will be welcomed by boaties across the region,” Cr Manning said. TMR had considered all suggestions from the public consultation period and, where possible, included those suggested ideas in the final design. The planned facility features a six-lane ramp, three floating walkways and two breakwaters, which will significantly improve Cairns northern suburbs’ capacity for launching and retrieving boats. The design features 135 car-trailer parks and 63 standard car parks, including six accessible (disabled) parking spaces and a new toilet block.
FAR North Queensland film makers and buffs are looking forward to the return of the Understory Film Festival later this year. After a record-breaking number of entries last year, organisers are excited to announce the eighth edition of Cairns Regional Council’s Understory Film Festival. Aspiring, emerging and professional filmmakers from Townsville to Cairns, across Cape York, the Gulf of Carpentaria region and the Torres Strait Islands are all invited to submit films for the chance to have them shown on the big screen and to be in the running to receive accolades and industry recognition. Last year, in Australia’s
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biggest film festival, Jasmine Bryan, year 12 Trinity Bay State High School took out two top spots and won both the Best High School Student Film and Best Film Awards with her short film ‘Daydreamer’s Pursuit’ shot on the Atherton Tablelands. The Best Fiction Film award went to Cheryl and Perry Harrison from Port Douglas for ‘The Beta Phase’ with the People’s Choice awarded to Kate Mascall for her documentary ‘Progress and Pool Noodles’. Applications for the 2021 awards close at 4pm on Monday 11 October and Thursday 7 October for entries in the High School Student category. The duration of films must be eight minutes or less, including credits. The Understory Film Festival will return to Munro Martin Parklands on Saturday November 20 from 6pm.
