A weekly re-cap of the events that have made news in Cairns over the past week.

Monday March 5, 2001 4th Edition

Now that elections and cyclones are over (for a while at least) life gets back to normal. The main news to hit the press this week was the announcement that the long awaited Cairns Cityport redevelopment was going ahead with work due to start in July. The Cairns economy has be struggling for five years with much of the economic pressure being blamed on a lack of infrastructure and large projects in the area. It is hoped the beautification and redevelopment of the Cairns waterfront will kick start the local economy.

Security guard attacked with knife
A Cairns Security Guard was attacked by a gang of men early on Tuesday morning, 27 February. The attack occurred as the guard was doing a routine check in the Cairns Central Shopping Centre car park. The Guard noticed three men loitering in the parking area and he approached them. A scuffle ensued resulting in a knife being drawn and the Security Guard being slashed on the arm and the face during the attack. The Guard eventually disarmed the men, forcing them to flee the scene. The Police have describe the attack as particularly viscous.

Daikyo announce major makeover of Trinity Wharf
A multi-million dollar makeover of Trinity Wharf has been announced by the sites lessee. The Daikyo Group have a 60 year lease on the prime waterfront site which falls within the proposed Cityport redevelopment zone. Daikyo's Senior Manager, Trevor Beers stated that the company was committed to the site however at this stage there was still some uncertainty about what form the development would take. The site has been zone commercial allowing for retail space as well as residential apartments. Daikyo will continue negotiations with the Cairns Port Authority to ensure that the project starts as soon as possible.

Need for a new dam
There have been calls for the Queensland State Government to start work on a new water catchment dam immediately. Current supplies are more than ample with three main catchment areas however there is concern that if dry conditions such as those that occurred in the early 1990's were to re-occur, there would be severe water shortages around 2005. The General Manager of Cairns Water, Bryan Smythe stated that a new dam would cost approximately $115 million and would take up to seven years to be completed.

First time for new reef names
Three reefs have been named after individuals who are still living. The newly named reefs are Barnett Patches, Moss reef and Duncan Reef. All three have been named after researchers at James Cook University in Townsville. This is the first time in the history of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park that reefs have been named after people who are still living.

Renee Rivkin heads to Cairns
Flamboyant stockbroking mogul Renee Rivkin is heading to Cairns to conduct a seminar on making money in shares. The seminar is planned for March 9 and a large crowd is expected to attend the seminar. The seminar is designed to "provide an educational yet highly entertaining insight into Mr Rivkin's investment secrets and his views and recommendations on the state of the market for 2001".

Push to make Atherton Tableland Genetically Modified Free
There is growing support to make the Atherton Tableland an area free of all genetically modified and engineered foods. There is growing demand for foods that are both organic and free from any form of modification. The Tablelands GeneEthics Network has been established to monitor the inflow of the Genetic industry in the region. So far the group have collected 2000 signatures supporting a genetically modified free zone on the Atherton Tablelands and support is growing daily. Atherton Shire Mayor, Jim Chapman said that the Council had agreed to host a public meeting to determine the level of public support for the concept.

Call for Kuranda Tunnel
Over the years there have been many proposals put forward regarding a tunnel from Kuranda to Cairns to ease pressure on the Kuranda Range Road which traverses environementally sensitive rainforest areas. The proposed tunnel would run for 7 kilometres between Smithfield (North of Cairns) and Kuranda and the project is estimated to cost $744 million dollars. This is twice the amount that it would cost to widen the existing road. This project has been on the drawing board for over ten years with the main argument against the tunnel being the cost and the lack of traffic and freight volume in the area to justify infrastructure of this nature.

Hospital resources pushed to the limits
Cairns Base Hospital has been strained to cope with the demand for medical services as a result of a recent outbreak of respiratory infections in Cairns. Thirty severely sick people were admitted in three days, all suffering from similar respiratory problems. Whilst the hospital has advised that there are normally increases with respiratory infections during the wet seasons this year was far busier than previous years. No explanation could be given for the increases.

Bhuddist Zen Master visits Cairns
Master Hogen Yamahata is believed to be the first Buddhist Zen Master to visit and teach in Cairns. Whilst in Cairns Master Yamahata will be conducting a five day meditation retreat for members of the Bodhi Citta Buddhist Centre.

Police to target tourist fraud
International tourists frequently made fraudulent insurance claims before leaving Australia. This type of fraud is hard to control and hard to investigate as the people involved often leave the Country before the investigation can be conducted. With the recent influx of Asian travellers during the Chinese New Year the police noticed an increase in the number of reports on stolen property. One of the main problems with these fraudulent claims is that potential tourists are given the wrong impression about an area which is described as being unsafe.

BOSS store planned for Cairns
Well known international menswear brand Hugo Boss has suggested that Cairns is one of the locations that is being considered to open a retail store. The main issue is finding the right location and at present no details are confirmed.

Pilot survives crash
An Innisfail pilot has a luck escape when his light aircraft hit power lines and crash landed just 20 metres from a farmhouse near Innisfail on Thursday March 2. The pilot, Mr Jimmy Koehler had been aerial spraying a banana crop when the accident happened. Mr Koehler was taken by ambulance to Innisfail Hospital with a suspected fractured leg.

Romanian drug trafficker jailed for 12 years
Police officers had to restrain a Romanian drug trafficker who went berserk in a Cairns Courtroom after being handed a 12 year sentence for heroin trafficking on Thursday March 1. Mr George Bujora yelled obscenities at police during the tussle. His harsh penalty sent a message to drug traffickers that dealing heroin would not be tolerated in this community stated Justice Jones.

Cityport project to get underway
The long awaited and discussed Cityport project has now been given the green light. It is expected to begin on July 30 with a project manager being appointed on April 30. It is the announcement that has been expected for almost three years, with initial planning for the redevelopment dating back to 1992.

The total cost of the project is expected to be in the vicinity of $60 million with most work focusing on the redevelopment of a Great Barrier Reef cruise ship terminal and a general beautification of the entire waterfront area incorporating restaurants, cafes and retail shops.

Cairns Radisson Taipans make it back to back wins
The Cairns Radisson Taipans boasted another convincing victory on the weekend against the Canberra Canons. The final score was Cairns 89 to Canberra 74. This is the fifth Taipans win for the season and coach Guy Molly has set sights on several more wins in the coming weeks.