Palm Cove News
Tropical North Queensland


SEPTEMBER 2005

Rates increase by 34%

CAIRNS CITY COUNCIL rates for Palm Cove properties have increased by at least 34 percent over 18 months.
Rates for a 20m frontage, 800sq m property in Terebra St for the six months to 30/6/04 were a discounted $878. Rates for six months to 31/12/05 are $1174.
This is an increase of 34 percent for a six-monthly period.
Cairns Residents Reference Group (Rates) spokesperson Mr Selwyn Johnston said beach suburbs from Palm Cove to Machans Beach had been hit with increased rates much larger than elsewhere in Cairns, with some increases up to 162% on last year. "If rates were a wealth tax such as income tax, the increases might be partly justified because of increased land valuations," he said.
"As council rates are not a wealth tax just as stamp duties, car registrations and other government taxes are not wealth taxes, property owners should pay the same in rates for the same council services. Council rates in Queensland have never been considered a wealth tax since local governments are not legally empowered to raise taxes."
Mr Johnston said the group had obtained initial legal opinion, and further opinion from a Brisbane QC - an expert on local government law - has since been sought. People wishing to protest their rates, whether paid or unpaid, should write to Cairns City Council as follows: "Payment of 2005-06 council rates is made under protest and without prejudice to action for subsequent recovery as it is deemed that the method of levy of such rates is inequitable. In this regard all rights are reserved." Rate assessment number and address should be quoted.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the above legal costs please send to Ian C. Millyard, Solicitor, 109 Arlington Esplanade, Clifton Beach 4879.

Letter to Editor

WE HAVE been regular visitors to Far North Queensland since the late 80s, in earlier years exploring by car and taking two cruises, one from Cairns to Townsville which took in several islands and the outer reef, the other from Cairns to Thursday Island, always including Palm Cove in these trips.
Moreover, since taking up golf, we have made Novotel Resort, Palm Cove, the focus of our holidays on several occasions.
The superb green and tropical environment of the golf course and the rainforest walk to the beach make the resort absolutely unique in our experience.
All visitors and not only golfers appreciate this unequalled setting.
If plans to destroy the golf course to make way for urban -style development go ahead, this will have a very negative effect on Palm Cove's beauty and appeal for tourists like us.
Other golf courses in the area are not nearly accessible and almost certainly cost very much more. Golf in these circumstances would not be at all attactive for golfers or holiday makers such as ourselves; indeed, Palm Cove's attractiveness to all types of visitors would be considerably reduced.
To introduce development on the scale envisaged would in our view totally ruin the nature of Palm Cove. We, for example, would never go there again as it would have lost its village appeal as well as the scenic golf course which make it such a matchless destination.

Donald and Ann Johnstone, Wembly Downs,W.A.(From Cairns Post, Aug 13)

Editorial

Donald and Ann Johnstone's letter will certainly be applauded by a majority of locals.
The loss of Novotel Golf Course would undoubtedly have a negative effect on the future of Palm Cove. We are a tourist's town; we're not just a place to stay. Australian and world visitors see it as a place of natural beauty, with a village lifestyle, a relaxing atmosphere, and a place of fun. A golf course is central to the fun.
What other attractive Australian funplace is without a golf course? People don't need to play golf to see it: the course by itself indicates the place is for fun.
A country club, too, where people can meet, dine, drink and dance goes with the golf. Country clubs are big in the US.
We are not asking for widespread golf fairways that take up valuable space. Is there not space for a more compact nine-hole championship course? Because of an expected huge increase in local and tourist residence here, would not the course perhaps pay for itself?
The future of Palm Cove as a tourist destination affects virtually everyone here. The absence of a golf course would affect that future.

Cove People

OUTRIGGER'S CEO

MURRAY WORTHINGTON is a happy man. Well, at least he's as happy as a general manager of a large resort such as Outrigger Beach Club with its many responsibilities could be.
Originally from Atherton, he said his parents holidayed every year at Palm Cove where he crawled on the beach as a baby. "I've come home," he said.
Murray has been at Beach Club for a year and a half and would like to stay forever. His wife has said : "Please, no more moves." Murray is married to Leanne with two boys Callum 15 and Travis 12, and they have all certainly moved. Starting at age 15 in a bank in Cooktown, Murray became a rouseabout on Long Island. It was the start of a lifetime career. He did trainee courses, gained a Batchelor of Business Degree (Hospitality) at the University of Queensland, and worked for hotels in Brisbane, New Guinea, Gold Coast, and elsewhere in Queensland. In Port Moresby, his first task as chief of Travelodge was a state reception for Prince Charles.
What does he think of his Leigh Ratcliffe designed Beach Club? "That man is a visionary," he said. "I asked him what he had in mind when he designed the resort. He said : `Timeless elegance with a contemporary twist.' It certainly has this."
Murray says he enjoys his golf and has lots of potential to improve. He is involved with Tourism Palm Cove, Skal Club of Cairns, and works with a group to develop the conference market for Palm Cove. He says it's hard to get away from the office when he enjoys his work so much but seems to thrive on the challenges his resort provides.
The Outrigger Beach Club & Spa has 200 rooms all individually owned. Tourists, we believe, just love to stay in them.

Gongs to Nu Nu, Vivo

NU NU was awarded Best New Restaurant, and Vivo (Amphora Resort) Best Italian Restaurant at the Restaurant and Catering Association's 2005 awards for Far North Queensland.

Off-the-plan win

A PENTHOUSE at Sea Temple originally bought off the plan for $775,000 recently sold for $1.05 million, according to Cairns Post July 27.