Palm Cove News
Tropical North Queensland

AUGUST 2007


Porker war in Island View Estate

PUBLIC ENEMY at Island View Estate has been a tribe of wild pigs digging in council-managed garden beds at the entrance to the estate.
"They are being trapped on the hillside areas at the bottom of the range," said Pest Management Group chairman Cr Paul Gregory.
He said the animals were looking for food and water, so irrigated lawns and mulsh were ideal.
"Landowners are responsible for pest control on private property but council can help people who cannot remove the pigs," he said.
Cr Gregory said that landowners should have their own pest management plans such as exclusion fencing - either around their property or around gardens.
The council has trapped 78 pigs in the region between Palm Cove and Smithfield. Six were trapped at Palm Cove last month.
Council records show July to September as the busy season for feral pigs.
Animals caught in traps were humanely destroyed within 24 hours, Cr Gregory said.

(Ref : Cairns Post 13/7/07)

EDITORIAL

How to be invisible

FOR THOSE who don't have Cairns Post home-delivered or buy it elsewhere we thought you might be interested.
(Jeff Langley of Trinity Beach 4055 6561 who delivers the papers said only 30 percent of Coveites have home delivery.)
A letter from a regular visitor to Cairns appeared in the Post on July 6 saying it was a pity that past councils had allowed houses to be built on our hillslopes. The letter went on: Can something be done to make the houses more invisible at long range? Perhaps trees can be planted to hide them: the owners would not object providing they still have spaces between the trees through which they can enjoy the views. S. Laing, Essex, England.
Your editor immediately rushed to his computer and emailed Cairns Post with the following:
S. Laing's UK letter is a breath of fresh air!
Since moving to Cairns 12 years ago, I have been annoyed that a few selfish people have built on the scenic rim where they enjoy great views and cool seabreezes, whereas we lesser people can only look up and see them.
It's like putting a commercial sign above Niagara Falls or a McDonald's eatery in the Grand Canyon.
Those few houses overlooking Cairns have spoiled the attraction of a virginal piece of nature.
Our magnificent hillslopes could have been the talk of the whole world - and still can.
Tourists come to see our reef and rainforests but they don't seem to admire our hillslopes so verbally.
The reason? Just a few houses that have spoiled the vista.
As S. Laing says, it is true that trees, when seen from a distance, make houses invisible, and yet the people in the houses can still have great views.
If you go to Double Island or in a boat offshore and look back at Palm Cove, an amazing sight greets your eyes : Palm Cove has disappeared!
It's an optical illusion. You can see only trees.
Yet walking along the town's esplanade you can easily see Double Island, the ships, the sea, the beaches, and the sunrise.
You hardly notice the few trees through which you are looking.
In the interests of the tourism industry, the council should pass a law making it compulsory for existing hillslopes house-owners to plant trees to hide them from a distance.

Jerry Dukes, Terebra St, Palm Cove

The letter was published by Cairns Post on July 16 with a coloured photo of Palm Cove with a headline Hide hillslopes homes in trees and labelled Editor's Pick.

Sno wins tree battle

TWO ancient trees on two blocks at the corner of the esplanade and Cedar Road have been saved from development.
Cr Sno Bonneau, representing the northern beaches, said plans were submitted to the council three years ago for a luxury unit complex over the two blocks.
The plans allowed for parking and set-back requirements according to regulations.
However, this would have meant the destruction of one large melaleuca tree on the corner block, the councillor said.
"We could not and cannot let our melaleucas go without a fight," he told PCN.
The developer/owner of the blocks Brian Holding and the authorities have since reached a compromise which allows the complex to be built around the tree.
"I am very pleased with this development and also the $1million to be spent on landscaping around the caravan park. "More will be spent on the caravan park and a new toilet block at the jetty to make the northern end of the esplanade very attractive," Sno said.

10 storey news all bollocks

THERE IS absolutely no truth in the news that Palm Cove will soon have a 10 storey development, Sno Bonneau has said.
"I think the people spreading that rumour - I know them - are just trying to stir others so they will join their community group," he told PCN.
"The absolute maximum limit any building can be in Palm Cove is four storeys.
"Palm Cove has become world famous for the high quality and strict development restrictions Council has insisted on - and that will continue," he said.

Abysmal loss of palms

THREE large healthy palm trees along the canal behind Amphora St were chopped down unnecessarily by an Ergon team last month, our roving reporter Adrian Ratcliffe (no relation to architect Leigh) has said.
"There were no power lines there and the trees could have been 100 years old ," he said.
Why? Ergon said a cyclone could cause the trees to fall into the canal and block it.
Adrian said that was utter nonsense.

Published by Jerry Dukes
52 Terebra St
Palm Cove 4879 QLD
Ph 4059 1610 Fax 4059 0058
Email: info@palmcovenewsletter.com
On website: http://www.palmcovenewsletter.com

Palm Cove's official website: http://www.palmcove.net