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In Focus, 24 October 2014
Dear reader, welcome to the latest edition of In Focus, full of news, events and opportunities from your council.
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Mayor's Message
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I was delighted to announce this week that work will soon be underway on the redevelopment of the Tobruk Memorial Pool.
With the construction contract now awarded, the contractor will take possession of the site early next month. For all gain, there has to be a little pain and we do need to close the pool for the works to go ahead.
This is a major project to benefit the Cairns community. Not only will it bring the complex to a standard suitable for major competition, but it will give our young swimmers the best possible start.
It will be a place for locals to have fun and a place of healing and wellbeing. In short, it will be a sport and recreation facility for all.
It will also serve as a tribute to our servicemen and women as the historical links with the Rats of Tobruk as preserved and enhanced.
I'm looking forward to joining the community in following the progress of this redevelopment.
On a separate note, we have also announced an audit of unregistered dogs to start next month. If you are a responsible pet owner, this audit will not affect you. If you do have an unregistered dog at home, there is still time for you to do the right thing by your pet and your community and fill in a registration before the audit starts.
Mayor Bob Manning
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Disaster centre open day
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Members of the public will get an inside look at the Cairns Disaster Coordination Centre at an Open Day in the lead-up to the start of the cyclone season.
To encourage residents to prepare for the cyclone season, Cairns Regional Council is inviting the community to find out what goes on in the region’s disaster operations base.
The cyclone season officially starts on 1 November, which makes now the ideal time to prepare your household emergency plan, pack your emegency kit and make any other preparations around your home. Council has a range of online resources to assist with these preparations.
The Disaster Coordination Centre Open Day will be held from 2.30pm to 6.30pm on Thursday 30 October. The centre is located at 61-79 Windarra St, Woree.
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Give your feedback on plan
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The Cairns region's new Planning Scheme is nearing competition, with members of the public able to have a say on the draft document from next week.
Public consultation opens on Monday, with written submissions to be accepted until 10 December.
Information booths will be set up at several local shopping centres during the consultation period, with staff available to discuss elements of the draft scheme.
Following the public consultation period, Council will consider all properly made submissions and provide each submitter with a response.
Subject to Ministerial consideration, it is expected the new Cairns Region Planning Scheme will be adopted in early 2015.
To have your say, lodge a submission on or before 10 December 2014. To be considered properly made, submissions must:
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be in writing;
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include the name and postal address of each person making the submission;
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include the grounds (reasons) for the submission and the facts and circumstances relied on in support of the grounds; and
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be signed by each person making the submission (if the submission is not lodged electronically).
Submissions can be lodged online using the electronic submission form available online or by email to planningscheme@cairns.qld.gov.au.
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Pool contract awarded
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Work is set to start within weeks on the redevelopment of the Tobruk Memorial Pool.
ADCO Constructions Pty Ltd will be engaged to transform the existing pool into a modern complex with a range of additional features which meets FINA international standards.
The refurbished complex will include a brand new 50 metre pool built to FINA specifications, an artificial wave rider, a toddler waterplay pool, and a new 25 metre program pool.
Amenities including the reception, kiosk, toilets and function space will be upgraded and new grandstand seating, shade and landscaping added. A memorial walkway and entrance feature will pay tribute to the Rats of Tobruk.
The pool complex will be closed to the public from 4pm on Sunday 2 November. Pool users are invited to use Council’s public pools at Smithfield (Marlin Coast) and Woree.
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Movie night helps Bears
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Brinsmead’s Loridan Drive Reserve will be transformed into an outdoor cinema next week for a free family movie night.
But movie-goers are encouraged to bring some generosity along, as the movie night will double as a fundraiser for the Bears Baseball Club.
“The Bears lost their clubhouse in a fire about a month ago,” Division 6 Councillor Linda Cooper said. “This was a really big blow to such a fantastic community sporting club.
“But they’ve refused to let this setback slow them down and it’s great to see the whole community pulling together to fundraise and get the club back on its feet.”
Movie-goers will be treated to an outdoor screening of The Lego Movie on Saturday 1 November from 7pm, following live musical entertainment.
The Bears Baseball Club will team up with Neighbourhood Watch for a sausage sizzle and popcorn stall, with all proceeds helping the club to replace its equipment.
Pictured above with Cr Cooper is Bears president Toni Berhendorff and Steve Habjan from Habjan & Cain Real Estate, who has donated $500 to assist the Bears.
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Dog audit to start
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Owners of unregistered dogs are urged to get their pooches on the books, as Council embarks on an audit of the region's pets.
From 10 November, Council officers will be inspecting properties to locate the possibly thousands of unregistered dogs in the Cairns region.
Registration helps to fund improved facilities, such as dog off-leash areas, which benefit both dogs and their owners. It also helps to identify lost dogs and to fund animal management activities.
If an unregistered dog is identified during the audit, the owner will be issued a notice giving 14 days to register their dog. If the dog is not registered in this time the owner will be fined $227. Owners who register their dogs ahead of the audit will avoid any penalty.
Dog registrations can be submitted in person at any of Council's Customer Service Centres during business hours.Online registration will be available from 3 November.
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Be water-wise during dry
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As the days become longer, the extended dry season is starting to take its toll on Cairns' water supplies.
While there is no need for alarm, residents are asked to think about their water use and avoid wasting this precious resource.
Currently, Copperlode Dam's water level is at 89 per cent capacity. If the level drops to 80 per cent, Level 1 water restrictions may be introduced.
Permanent sprinkler use guidelines are in place as an ongoing water conservation measure. Under the guidelines, households can use a sprinkler up to three days a week from 5am-9am and 5pm-9pm, with days based on whether the house number is odd or even.
Free "odd or even" tap tags and fridge magnets are available from Council offices and Cairns Libraries branches as a reminder of which days watering is permitted.
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