Cairns Regional Council e-news - Volume 8, 27 November 2015

Christmas tree to light up

The Cairns Esplanade Christmas Tree lights will be switched on next Tuesday, 1 December, amid a festive evening of carols and Christmas Cheer. The evening will have an active start, with a special Christmas Zumba class at 5.30pm. This will be followed by carols and entertainment from 6pm, with the lights to be turned on by Christmas e-card winners Billie, Aimee and Mia (scroll down to see their designs) at 7pm. All are welcome to come along and celebrate the start of the festive season.

Free mulch & sandbags

Wet season preparations will get a helping hand next week, when sandbags and garden mulch are made available free to Cairns region residents. Free sandbags and sand will be made available for collection from waste transfer stations to help residents to be prepared for the possibility of wet season flooding. Bags will be provided for residents to fill with sand on site. Scoops for filling will be provided. Sandbags are for residential use only and will be available until supplies run out. Limits apply. Mulch consisting of green waste delivered to waste transfer stations during the recent free drop-off period will also be offered to residents at no cost. Full details including times and locations

Christmas card design winners

The Kuranda Scenic Railway train, driven by a Christmas-loving teddy bear, has claimed the top prize in this year’s Christmas e-card competition. Drawn by nine-year-old Billie Luce, the entry depicts the train winding along the downhill track against a rainforest backdrop that features the Barron Falls, a cassowary and snake, as a Skyrail gondola passes overhead. Billie took out the 7-9 years age category and was selected as the overall winner, which means her design will be made into Cairns Regional Council’s official Christmas e-card. Under 6 age group winner is Mia Pennell and 10-13 years winner is Aimee Gowlett. The trio will switch on the Esplanade Christmas tree lights on Tuesday.

Tiles to complete Tobruk pool

Cairns’ new 50 metre competition-standard pool is nearing completion, as work continues on the Tobruk Memorial Pool complex. The walls of the FINA-standard pool have been tiled and the bottom is expected to be finished in the next month, weather permitting. It will form the centrepiece of a swimming complex that will benefit both competitive and recreational swimmers. Redevelopment of the Sheridan Street site was about 70 per cent complete. The complex will be opened to the public by mid-2016.

December meeting dates

Two Ordinary Meetings will be held next month, on Wednesdays 9 and 16 December. There will be no committee meetings during December. The first meeting of 2016 will be an Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday 27 January. All members of the public are invited to attend these meetings. Agendas will be published on the Monday prior to each meeting.

Chinese garden celebrates friendship

Lion Dancers heralded the opening of Centenary Lakes’ newest attraction last weekend, as a sea of red celebrated Cairns’ cultural ties with China. The Zhanjiang Friendship Garden recognise the Sister Cities relationship between Cairns and Zhanjiang. The garden is situated on the banks of Freshwater Lake, within the Centenary Lakes precinct at Edge Hill. The garden incorporates traditional features in a contemporary style, including entry pillars adorned with graphic motifs of traditional cloud patters of Zhanjiang. Boulders of Chillagoe marble acknowledge the importance of rocks and mountains in Chinese garden culture. A Moon Gate is inscribed with the words “Friendship Garden” and carved granite dogs at the entrance to the Pavilion are representative of the ancient dog sculptures unique to Zhanjiang. See the photos

Fusion of flavours for NYE concert

Cairns Esplanade will once again come alive for New Year’s Eve, with an exciting musical line-up to ring in 2016. Sydney funk/soul artist James Fox Higgins will bring his nine-piece band to Cairns to headline the celebrations with a combination of soul, jazz, retro pop and a dash of disco. Reggae fans will be treated to the sounds of Brisbane outfit Paua, which offers a fusion of musical flavours against harmonic vocals. The visiting acts will be supported by an array of local talent, including The Dialers, The Nightshift and Chris Ah Gee. The always-popular Family Doyle Fun Show will make sure the younger revellers are entertained. As always, fireworks displays will light up the foreshore sky at 9pm and midnight – the latter concluding the event and heralding the start of 2016. As a result of public demand, Council will fund an extended bus service to help people get home safely after the concert. Read more

Pool safety compliance due

Pool owners have until 30 November to make sure their pools meet statewide safety standards. Five years ago, The Queensland Government introduced a single pool safety standard designed to address preventable accidents and drownings, especially among children. The deadline for full compliance is now approaching. If you're unsure whether your pool meets the safety standard, contact a licensed pool safety inspector. More information available on the Department of Housing and Public Works website.