The Express Newspaper 1st February 2017

Page 1

EXPRESS The

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Locally owned and proudly independent

Pride of our region

WHEN it comes to preserving the Tablelands’ rich wartime history, few have done more than Tolga man John Hardy (pictured). The former national serviceman was chuffed to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Australia Day for his service to veterans and their families, highlighted by his involvement in the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park, Afghanistan Avenue of Honour and several other organisations. Mr Hardy was joined by fellow OAM recipient and Mareeba resident Sandy Kelly, who was recognised for her tireless work in indigenous communities. The pair were part of dozens of Tablelanders who received Australia Day honours, as the region celebrated with pride. > PHOTOS PAGE 12

One more shot State Govt to make call on land for $21m shopping centre By Michael Serenc THE State Government remains the last hope for a local developer to secure a parcel of land needed to build a proposed $21 million shopping centre in Mareeba. Reedlodge Pty Ltd’s request that Mareeba Shire Council relinquish its trusteeship over a 1128m2 parcel of State-owned land needed to

make an application to build the shopping centre was defeated 4-3 at last Wednesday’s council meeting. Councillors Alan Pedersen, Kevin Davies and Lenore Wyatt voted in support of the request, while Councillors Nipper Brown, Angela Toppin and Mary Graham voted against it, alongside Mayor Tom Gilmore who had the deciding vote. The land is reserved for aged housing but is

hampered with drainage issues, lack of road access and a power pole which would all need to be rectified if council eventually decided to build on it. If council had relinquished its trusteeship of the land, the State’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) would have been free to sell it to Reedlodge who in turn would have proceeded with a development application

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to council. But council’s decision, which came more than six months after Reedlodge made their request, means the developer will now have to make a direct approach to DNRM to purchase the land. While DNRM have the ability to override council’s decision on the matter, they will be influenced by that decision. CONTINUED Page 3

The Little Mitchell on 104 $330,000

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