Palm Cove News
Tropical North Queensland


DECEMBER 2005

Goldfinch Park plans out this month

THE PUBLIC will be soon be invited to comment on preliminary plans for the redevelopment of Goldfinch Park, Division Eleven Cr Sno Bonneau has said.
Goldfinch Park, on the seafront north of Cedar Road, contains the caravan park, car park, and beach foreshore.
"It's a community issue, and everyone will have the right to make an input," Cr Bonneau said.
Preliminary plans will be displayed at Palm Cove for a period starting December 19th, he said. The announcement came after a local resident noticed inspections being taken of the area and enquired if the public was to be invited to submit comments on "such a beautiful area of park and beach."
Melanie Wicks of the council-appointed designors The 20/20 Group said that nothing was set in concrete.
"There have been numerous changes made so far, and all feedback will be taken into consideration," she said.
"We have had an environmental study on the design and construction of a realigned road and car park.
"There are presently two concept plans available for people to comment on," she said. Cr Bonneau said the park was special. "It's a precious area and we must make sure we get the best outcome for everyone," he said.

Cove People

A WOMAN ON THEMOVE

THEY SAY if you want something done, ask a busy person. Well, one busy person around these parts is Colleen Were.
Her firm Colleen Were Marketing has a number of clients, prominent among which is Tourism Palm Cove. Colleen spends about 30 hours a week on Palm Cove business. "My heart's in Palm Cove," she said.
A petite, highly competent wife and mother of two from Kewarra Beach and originally from Albany, WA, she and her family travelled extensively throughout Australia before deciding to settle in Cairns.
She started working at the Ramada Reef Resort (now Drive) in 1989 and has been marketing and selling Palm Cove to the world ever since. For three years she has her own marketing business, and she continues to promote the destination on a contract basis. She's certainly busy. On the days leading up to October's Fiesta, she didn't get much sleep. "Some nights only a couple of hours," she said.
Colleen also handles the Cleanest Beach promotion, Christmas Carols, and Fireworks (if it is on.) Checking her watch at the end of interview she said : "Must go, have to meet a boat. We had 70 inbound tour operators at a welcome function last night in Palm Cove and tonight I am joining them for a dinner on the beach at Green Island. "Topic of conversation for the evening will, of course, be Palm Cove."

Clean Beach Awards

HAVING won Cleanest Beach from 16 contenders in the Far North Region, Palm Cove is once again a finalist in this year's state title. The winner will be announced on Dec 2nd. Palm Cove won Queensland's Cleanest Beach in 2002 and Australia's Cleanest Beach in 2003.
The challenge is run by the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.

Aussie visitors spend it

AUSTRALIANS visiting Tropical North Queensland spent $1.3 billion last year, says Tourism Minister Margaret Keech.
The Whitsundays region is not included in TNQ.
International visitor expenditure was also strong in the north.
(Ref : Northern News, Nov.)

Name change

HEDLEY'S residential project "Warren's Farm" to the east of the highway opposite Novotel Golf Course has been renamed "Paradise Point Estate."

Around Town

Damien and Maggie Sloper of Terebra St sure have a tale to tell their grandchildren some day. Last month, they bought Cairns Older Car & Ute Hire business in Sheridan St (next airport turnoff).
In their very first week of business they had three accidents which wrote off three vehicles : a car on the highway near Mareeba; another at Palm Cove when a huge branch from a melaleuka fell on it; and a ute which had an argument with a semi-trailer at Mt Sheridan. No one was seriously hurt.
"The previous owner had only one accident in ten years," she said.
Maggie and Damien say accidents run in threes; so they bought three more used cars and are now punting on an accident-free period. "A decade at the very least," they said.

Triton St land sold

THE 18,500 sq metre seaside block on Triton Street that was to be Triton Palace Resort has been sold, according to a real estate agent.
Mr Danny Betros of CB Richard Ellis said the block has been sold under an unconditional contract.
"Sorry, I can't yet disclose who bought it or for how much," he said.

Carols for all

On Christmas Eve there will be a parade, music, and a busload of carollers along the esplanade. Singers not on the bus who want to join in please come to Pete's Place at 7pm on the night. Details Colleen Were 4055 3901 or 0438 576 079.

Upstairs florist

BRIDES are happy about our only local florist. Annette Taylor started her business Pink Moss in August, and her best customers so far are the countless brides who tie the knot in beautiful Palm Cove. Of course, she has flowers for all other occasions too.


Letters to Editor

WHAT'S ALL THIS NEGATIVITY?

My wife and I have been watching Palm Cove with keen interest these past ten years. Why the negativity? We can see only positive changes that are bringing renewed life and vigour to the area - world-class restaurants, day spas, a Quicksilver stop to the reef, and more. We know there must be strict guidelines on development to ensure our beautiful Palm Cove keeps its unique character, but we also need to think about the future of our local businesses and the opportunities for our kids. Novotel and Outrigger are very much in keeping with the current low-rise, low-density, well-landscaped designs of the existing architecture.
James Littleton, jameslittleton@hotmail.com

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