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

Monday May, 5 2003 113th Edition

New technology detects cancer early
Far Northerners can now take advantage of a new service to the region which helps to detect skin cancer earlier. The Molescan service was opened last week and uses computerised technology to detect skin cancer. “With Australia recording the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world and Queensland rating the highest in Australia it is most important that we have our skin checked regularly,” spokesman Franco Ambrosio said. The new system uses digital epiluminescent light microscopy to examine moles and has the ability to save scanned pictures of moles for accurate future comparisons.

Butterfly rego plates wins vote
Cairns residents have expressed a huge response to the city’s first personalised number plate concept, voting for the colourful Ulysses butterfly and a palm frond on a black background with the slogan: Cairns – Living In Paradise as first choice. Transport and Main Roads Minister Steve Bredhauer launched the new plate recently. After locals made many requests for a plate depicting the tropical lifestyle of the city Personalised Plates Queensland put forward four different designs for the community to consider. More than half of the 707 survey respondents decided on the Ulysses plate. The plates are now available for $325 per set.

Port Douglas keeps palm tree icon
The legendary 500 oil palms lining the entrance to Port Douglas are to remain, after local council contemplated removing the plants due to large maintenance costs. The palms were planted in the 1980s by disgraced entrepeneur Chritopher Skase to create a dramatic boulevard to his Mirage Resort. The palms have now become an icon to the area but cost the local council about $17 000 annually to maintain. However, after consideration the council has decided to retain them due to local protest to the idea, stating they are an icon to the area. Skase spent $4 million moving the palms from Cape Tribulation to Port Douglas.

Cairns may become pre-training venue for Olympics
Sports TNQ, the Far Northern sporting industry lobby group, are driving for Cairns to be considered as a pre-training venue for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Chairman of Sports TNQ Ken Norman, plans to grow the region’s sports tourism sector from the current value of more than $40 million a year. Spokeswoman Rosie Ryan said steps were being taken to encourage the para-olympic swimming team to train in Cairns for the Commonwealth Games. Ms Ryan said Cairns was a likely venue to attract swimming events as the climate was more favourable than Melbourne where the Games are to be held.

Meter maids for Cairns
Meter maids have arrived in Cairns creating a welcoming sight for tourists and locals alike. Due to an extra 100 parking meters to be installed along two main streets in the city, local radio station SeaFM decided to introduce meter maids to the area recently. SeaFM promotions manager Dave Warner said the Cairns meter maids would opt for a tropical look, avoiding the golden glitter attire worn by maids on the Gold Coast. “We didn’t want to go the Gold Coast way of having them wear gold glitter bikinis and making it too tacky,” Mr Warner said. The meter maids are being trialled for the next three weeks and if successful, SeaFM may look at giving meter maids a more permanent position.

CBD block sold at $3m
Cairns City Coucil has sold one of the city’s prime blocks of land in the heart of the central business district for $3 million recently. Council held a closed sessionmeeting to accept an offer made by a southern investor to purchase the 5500sq m block including the Graft n Arts building and car park on Grafton Street. The land has been on the market for over two years with two previous offers of $2.2 million rejected. While the contract has not been finalised formally, the developer has been asked to allow Graft n Arts to remain on the site for at least 12 months.