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In Focus, 29 May 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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We at Council value the input from our residents on a range of topics. No one knows better what makes a community special than those who live there.
Right now, we have two projects open for public comment - the proposed expansion of the Goomboora Park dog off-leash area and the Lake Placid Master Plan.
After the long weekend, we will open the consultation period on the Shields Street Heart concept as part of the City Centre Alive revitalisation program.
We are genuinely interested in what people have to say about this concept and we go into this consultation program with a clean sheet and an open mind.
Keep an eye on the Cairns Regional Council website in the coming days for all the details on how to be involved, along with a series of concept images to get the thoughts flowing. We're keeping the public comment period open for six weeks, so there is plenty of opportunity to have your say.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in the establishment of Council's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This highly informed and strategic document was recognised with a Highly Commended award at this week's Queensland Reconciliation Awards, as part of National Reconciliation Week.
We all have a role to play in closing the gap in our community and we are working hard here at Council to lead by example.
Mayor Bob Manning
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Shields St consultation
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The next stage of the City Centre Alive project will be open for discussion next month, as Cairns Regional Council invites public comment on the Shields Street Heart concept.
A six-week public consultation program will open on 10 June.
"As the project to open Lake Street nears completion, we are now looking toward the next phase of the program to revitalise our city centre," Mayor Bob Manning said.
"A concept plan has been developed to assist in generating feedback on how Shields Street may be improved. Elements within the concept can be changed, moved or deleted entirely.
"All members of the public, including traders, will be given the opportunity to contribute to the planning of this important next step."
Cr Manning said the major objectives of the Shields St Heart project were to create public space and enhance dining and business opportunities.
"The draft proposal includes a city park design between Lake St and Grafton St with open green space," Cr Manning said. "In the Lake St to Abbott St section, there is the potential for water features and garden beds.
Lake Street works are due for completion in early September, with the grand opening scheduled for Saturday 6 September. The major prize winners of the Get Lucky on Lake competition will be drawn at an on-site community event on the day.
Members of the public wishing to participate in the consultation will be invited to complete a survey, attend an information forum or provide a written submission.
More detailed information will be available prior to the opening of the consultation period.
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TNQ20 Awards launched
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Nominations are now open in a new awards program focusing on the business and innovation achievements of Tropical North Queensland has been launched by Cairns Regional Council.
Nominations for the 2014 TNQ20 Business Excellence and Tropical Innovation Awards have been extended until 13 June to ensure there is plenty of time to get involved.
"The awards program seeks to recognise and celebrate local businesses that are excelling in areas such as growth and performance, marketing, workforce diversity and service quality, as well as the region's creative thinkers and innovators," Mayor Bob Manning said.
The new awards format features14 categories for Business Excellence and a further six categories celebrating Tropical Innovation. The awards will culminate with the creation of the inaugural "TNQ20" – a list of the region's best and brightest businesses and innovators.
Complementing the awards is a program of sponsored workshops and business events to help innovators work their way through the commercialisation process.
Businesses can self-nominate or be nominated by a third party. More information on the entry process.
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Lake Placid master plan
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Feedback on the proposed master plan for the popular recreation area at Lake Placid closes tomorrow.
The master plan has been developed to improve the recreation area to make it more user-friendly.
To be staged over four years, the master plan proposes the construction of a terraced amphitheatre overlooking the river, a viewing platform, new access to the river for rafters and emergency vehicles, improved signage, a new boardwalk, picnic areas and play space. New toilets and all-abilities access are also included.
"We'd like to know what people think of the master plan – what they like, what they don't like and what they think might be missing," Division 8 Councillor Jessie Richardson said.
To view the master plan and to provide feedback, visit the Your Say website before close of business this Friday 30 May.
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Dog off-leash area survey
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Following receipt of a petition seeking an expansion of the existing off-leash area at Brinsmead's Goomboora Park, Cairns Regional Council has produced an online survey to allow all park users and residents to have their say.
"Goomboora Park is a particularly well-used park and attracts a variety of types of use," Division 6 Councillor Linda Cooper said. "Dog-owners are among the most regular users and we certainly are aware of the benefits of exercising and socialising dogs.
"We are now looking for the right balance that will allow adequate space for dogs and their owners, alongside the needs of other park users."
The survey asks respondents their opinions on the two options suggested in the petition covering letter, being a time-share arrangement by which dogs would be permitted off-leash throughout the park at certain times of the day; or a permanent expansion of the current area.
The survey will remain open until 20 June and all comments will be considered in the preparation of a report to Council.
Cairns Regional Council currently provides 46 dog off-leash areas. Dogs are required to be on a leash at all times in any public area that is not signposted as being an off-leash area.
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Lagoon maintenance
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Essential maintenance will be carried out on the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and associated amenities next month, resulting in a full closure of these facilities for 17 days.
The lagoon pool and toilet/shower block will be closed from 9pm on Tuesday 10 June, re-opening at 6am on Saturday 28 June.
A major maintenance program is undertaken every two years to ensure the lagoon was operating safely and efficiently. The works cannot be done while the pool is full or during the wet season.
The closure has been timed to occur when use of the pool is historically at its lowest and the pool will re-open at the start of the school holidays.
It will remain open for the Queen's Birthday long weekend and the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival.
Other Cairns Esplanade attractions, such as Muddy's Playground, will not be affected by the closure. Active Living classes using the pool will be suspended but other classes will proceed as per program.
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Charges kept below CPI
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Regulated parking charges in the Cairns CBD have remained largely unchanged, with some sections reduced, in the draft Fees and Charges Schedule for the 2014-15 financial year.
The new schedule is based on a general increase of 2.75 per cent – below the CPI increase.
"Where we can, we have chosen not to increase charges," Mayor Bob Manning said. "Where an increase is required, we've kept it to the minimum that will allow us to cover costs and provide the level of service that is expected of Council.
"We're pleased that we've managed to keep the overall increase below CPI and much lower than many other councils."
Parking on Wharf Street has been reduced from $1.20 an hour to a maximum $4 a day and the Hartley Street carp park has reduced from $4 to $3 a day. Regulated parking will be introduced on Bunda Street at a cost of $2 a day. The Fees and Charges Schedule will be formally adopted with the 2014-15 Budget next month.
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New taxi rank, toilets open
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Taxis have relocated to the brand new, purpose-built Lake Street taxi rank, as the city's new transport hub takes shape.
Also now open is the new reef-themed public toilet block located at the multi-level car park.
The building's facade features fish and reef imagery that illuminates at night.
It is part of a nature-based theme that extends throughout the street, with display panels paying tribute to the dry season, the wet season and the build-up in between and wildlife features embedded in the footpaths.
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Sister Cities competition
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Students of all ages are invited to celebrate Cairns' Sister Cities relationships through words and pictures and have the chance to pick up some great prizes.
As National Sister Cities Day (5 July) approaches, Cairns Regional Council is preparing to celebrate its international relationships with seven Sister Cities: Riga in Latvia, Lae in Papua New Guinea, Minami and Oyama in Japan, Scottsdale in Arizona USA, Sidney in Canada and Zhanjiang in China.
This year marks significant anniversaries for four of Cairns' Sister Cities relationships: 10 years with Zhanjiang, 30 years each with Sidney and Lae and 45 years with Cairns' first Sister City, Minami.
Cairns Regional Council is running a competition for both primary and secondary school students, encouraging them to take an interest in Cairns' Sister Cities.
Primary school students are invited to enter a drawing competition based on the theme "Sister Cities – Communities Coming Together". Secondary school students can enter an essay competition by penning a 300-word piece answering the question: "Which of the Sister Cities of Cairns would you choose to visit, why, and what would you bring back?"
Prizes include family passes to Go Bowling Cairns, Cairns Recreation Centre and Sugarworld Waterpark. Download an entry form
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Parade entries open
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Residents are urged to put some colour in their lives and a spring in their step to sign up for this year's Cairns Festival Grand Parade. Applications to be part of this much-loved community event are now open under the theme "Spring in the Tropics".
Parade participants will vy for $10,000 in prize money. The Best School's category, which was introduced last year, will return along with Best Overall Float, Best Solo Entry and Best Non-Motorised Entry. Applicants will need to provide an overview of their proposed float/entry and a description of how it relates to the "Spring in the Tropics" theme when entering.
Full details, including an entry form, are available on the Cairns Festival website.
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