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Cairns Regional Council e-news - Volume 10, 18 December 2015

 
 

New Year's Eve set to explode

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. Combining soul, jazz, retro pop and a dash of disco, James Fox Higgins has appeared alongside the likes of Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies, Sneaky Sound System, Katie Noonan and Stan Walker. 

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 concert is a free, all-ages event and there will be a family entertainment area near The Lagoon with The Doyle Family Fun Show and Rachael Bradley providing entertainment from 6pm as well as a kids space on the Eastern Lawn. More information is available on council's website.

 
 
 

Tanks work starts  

Work has begun on the next stage of a $2.2 million upgrade of the Tanks Arts Centre, set for completion early next year. The project will include climate control, staging improvements, technical upgrades and increased audience capacity in Tank 5 along with infrastructure improvements to Tank 3. 

December progress photo
 
 

Aeroglen cycleway 

On Tuesday 15 December, Cr Jessie Richardson and Member for Barron River Craig Crawford officially opened the Northern Cycleway extension from Aeroglen to Freshwater. Cr Richardson and Mr Crawford also announced a joint funding agreement between Council and the Queensland Government to extend the pathway through to Ryan Weare Park and Kamerunga Road.

 
 
 

Have your say on Local Laws

Residents are invited to have a say on proposed new Local Laws that will govern a wide range of areas, including nuisance barking, selling products on roadsides, drinking alcohol in public, and "wayward" shopping trolleys. Council surveyed the Cairns community in 2014 to gauge public expectations on a raft of issues and used the feedback in drafting the proposed new laws and amendments to existing laws.

Under the proposed local laws:

  • Cats will need to be registered
  • Dogs will be banned from within 2m of Council playgrounds, barbecues or conveniences
  • A permit won't be needed to plant, prune or trim vegetation on road verges (so long as it undertaken in accordance with certain guidelines)
  • Display of vehicles for sale is prohibited on roadsides
  • Mobile food vendors will not need a permit (but will have to comply with certain criteria)
  • It will be an offence to possess liquor on Council land (unless in a designated wet area) and Council officers will be able to confiscate and dispose of liquor
  • Retailers with more than 25 trolleys will need to install trolley containment technology to stop trolleys leaving their premises
  • A permit is needed for more than one noisy bird
  • Dogs will continue to be prohibited in the CBD and around the Lagoon

Read more and find out how to have your say

 
 

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Coming up...

  • Celebrating Family remembrance afternoon - Serer Ge Buai Giz - Au Esoau Kemer Kemer Uteb Narid: Celebrating Family - Thanking the wider community. A joyful afternoon will bring families together in remembrance of the eight Manoora children who died last year. This free public event will take place from 1pm to 5.30pm on Saturday 19 December 2015 at Brothers Football Ground, Stan Williams Park, Beehan Street, Manunda. An evening concert featuring local artists and musicians will follow from 6pm until 8pm.

  • Murray Street remembrance service A pastoral service will be held to honour and acknowledge the children in a positive healing ceremony. The formal service proceedings will be from 11:00am to 12:30pm, followed by a symbolic tree planting ceremony. Shuttle bus services available.

Submit your non-profit event for publication

 
 

Nominations extended!

Nominations for the 2016 Cairns Region Australia Day Awards will now close on 3 January 2016, after the busy festive season. Awards will be presented in seven categories, including the Citizen of the Year. Other categories include sports, culture and voluntary service. These awards are a great way to thank someone who has made a contribution to their community or has excelled in their own achievements. Nomination forms can be downloaded from our website. Nominations now close on 3 January.

 
 
 

Council festive arrangements

Council offices including the Customer Service Centre and Ticketlink sales desk at Spence Street and Customer Service counters at libraries, will be closed from 2pm Thursday 24 December 2015 and will reopen for business as usual on Monday 4 January 2016. 

Waste and rubbish collections will operate as usual for green and yellow lid wheelie bins. Waste transfer and tipping stations will be closed on Christmas Day only and will operate as usual throughout the holiday period. 

Sugarworld Waterpark will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day public holidays. The park will also close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Normal opening hours of 10am to 4:30pm apply on all other days during the Queensland state school holiday. 

More information is available on Council's web.

 
 
 

New Year's Eve road closures

The Cairns Esplanade will be closed to traffic between Shields Street and Aplin Street from 6am on Thursday 31 December until 6am on Friday 1 January. Car parking bays will not be available during this time and there will be no delivery vehicle access. Emergency vehicles will be permitted at all times.  

 
 

Mobile black spots in spotlight

Do you know of a site within the Cairns region that needs improved mobile phone coverage? The Commonwealth Government has committed $60 million to provide new or upgraded mobile coverage to black spots in regional Australia under Round 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme. Cairns received a share of funding under Round 1 for improved coverage in the Goldsborough Valley, and Council urges residents to again nominate local black spots by 31 December 2015 using the online form at www.communications.gov.au/blackspots

 
 
 

Performing arts boost

Cairns Regional Council has awarded the $53.3 million contract to build the new Cairns Performing Arts Centre to FK Gardner and Sons.

Work on the Cairns Performing Arts Centre is scheduled to start in March next year. 

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Cairns Performing Arts Centre