Palm Cove News


AUGUST 2005

Council debate a farce, says wannabe mayor

CAIRNS CITY COUNCIL doesn't really know what community engagement means, Val Schier says. After a July 14 planning and environment meeting at which 100 Palm Cove residents attended, Ms Schier, who opposed Kevin Byrne for mayor in the last council elections, said the meeting was a farce. "The committee system is supposed to be for real discussion and debate," she said. "The meeting went on for 35 minutes with no real discussion on any one of the 19 agenda items. "Mr Doug Turnbull, representing the Palm Cove community, was allowed only five minutes to speak, and he was the only speaker. "At the end of his speech, following prolonged clapping from the overflowing gallery, the only comment made by anyone was a remark from the mayor that compared his speech to a theatrical performance at the Civic Theatre." There were no follow-up questions or responses from any councillor, she said. "The council is not compelled to do its business in this way," Ms Schier said. "It conducts each meeting as if the main end is to get the meeting finished as soon as possible." In his speech, Mr Turnbull said councillors had a responsibility to fully consider the wishes of the residents who elected them. "Palm Cove is our home," he said. "We are the people who live there. The council seems to support intensive, crowded and large-scale development. "We ask the council to take great care to ensure that it does not take the sad path of so many other tourist destinations and become merely a congested ugly suburb which offers little amenity to tourists and to its residents." Mr Gary Schofield, Public Relations Officer for the council, said any discussion from the public at committeee meetings was at the discretion of the mayor; and this was common practice in local government. "The agenda for the meeting included a report on a petition received from Palm Cove residents, and this was dealt with," he said.

Residents group on full alert

MEMBERS of the Clifton Beach Community Association Inc (which includes Palm Cove) are now set to monitor all present and future issues affecting our communities, Peter Johnston has said. Accepting his re-election as President at a meeting of 60 people at the Guide Hall on 23 July, Peter said the association now had a network of concerned community members available to investigate any issue and voice opinions. "Sub-committees will be formed to determine which issues members need to monitor, with emphasis on the hillslopes, beach erosion, land development, traffic, vegetation, and the environment," he said. "In addition to the very serious concerns expressed about beach erosion and sea flooding, the mood of the meeting was that the development of the beaches area, in particular Palm Cove, Buchan Point, and Clifton Beach, was happening at too fast a pace," he said. Other office bearers elected were: Vice President : Fiona Tulip Secretary : Judy Raeside Treasurer : John Rummery. NOTE : Palm Cove residents who want to be members of CBCA Inc should contact Joy Sumner-Potts 4055 3806. Subs $10 p.a. per household, $5 seniors

Sea floods a worry

SEAWATER flooded in and sand invaded Clifton Beach last week when a 3m spring tide coincided with winds that were strong but not as strong as cyclonic. At Palm Cove, the sea flood reached the brink of the esplanade. A government report just released said Cairns was particularly susceptible to floods and storm surges from cyclones and these would become worse in the next decade. "If greenhouse gasses were cut tomorrow, Australia could expect more frequent and extreme droughts, floods, more severe storms and less rainfall because of previous greenhouse gas accumulation," it said. Dr John Nott of James Cook University said it meant that when a cyclone came through there would be total devastation of properties. "And that's not planned for," he said. "Many people, many properties, many homes are going to be exposed to economic loss and many lives put in danger." Coral bleaching on the Barrier Reef would also intensify from global warming, the report said.

Stanley not Cook named Double Is.

LOCALS who are fond of saying Captain Cook named Double Island will have to sing another tune - it was Captain Stanley. In 1848, Stanley set sail in HMS Rattlesnake with 180 crewmen to survey the unchartered inner passage of the Great Barrier Reef from Dunk Island to the strait separating Australia from Papua New Guinea. Upon leaving Fitzroy Island, Captain Stanley established a survey station between Rocky Island and an as yet unnamed island in picturesque Trinity Bay. In particular he noted the island's unique `double mountain peak' appearance and it was duly named Double Island on hydrographic charts as a direct result of Stanley's observation. The above information, taken from www.doubleisland.com.au, Double Island's web site, continued : Some 25 years later in 1873 the ship Flying Fish under Captain Dalrymple continued the exploration of the north Queensland coastline that the Rattlesnake had begun. Dalrymple set out from Fitzroy Island determined to explore the entire Trinity Inlet. He quickly saw the potentially magnificent shipping capabilities of the perfectly land-locked harbour and named the new port Trinity Harbour, now the site of the city of Cairns. Having broken a rib in a sailing mishap, the injured Dalrymple anchored his ship on the western end of Double Island and set up camp on the beautiful white sandy beach until his rib was healed and the crew could set sail for Snapper Island to the north. The turn of the century saw mining companies on the mainland using Double Island as a staff retreat. Mine employees were carried by horse and buggy to the coast and would then camp on Double Island for rest and relaxation. Since then, ownership of Double Island changed hands several times - but never before today has it been available on such an exclusive basis.Double Island's natural and unspoiled beauty has a long history of rejuvenating the body and revitalising the mind of the weary and curious amongst its lush tropical setting and sandy beaches. We don't know who named our "scout hat," Haycock Island. Probably named by Stanley - Ed.