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

Monday July 5, 2004 133rd Edition

Grant may bring growth to cocoa crops
A $350,000 grant will ensure trials into producing cocoa in Far North Queensland will continue, which could see thousands of the trees in the Innisfail and Mossman area going from research to full production and ending the need for imports. “Australia currently imports more than 40,000 tonnes of cocoa each year. The opportunity is there if trials show the crop could be viable and sustainable,” Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said. The trials are currently monitoring variety yields and sustainability, planting density and fertiliser requirements.

Cairns law firm largest independent in state
Cairns law firm MacDonnells Solicitors recently confirmed a merger with Brisbane firm Lees Marshall Warnick, making it one of the largest independent law firms in Queensland. The firm includes more than 70 professionals with a total of 22 partners. Two new partners – Scott Keft and Susan Thomson were recently appointed. Mr Keft specialises in personal injury and Ms Thomson is an expert in family law.

More places available at JCU Cairns
James Cook University has announced 355 new student places are available at the Cairns campus bringing the total number of new places to 766 by 2008. JCU Cairns campus vice-chancellor Scott Bowman said more places meant the university could add to current programs such as secondary teaching, sport, exercise science and aged care. “JCU Cairns campus has a real agenda for growth and these extra numbers will help obtain that agenda,” he said.

Piece of Dunk Island changes hands after 100 years
A piece of Dunk Island rainforest is to change hands for the first time in 100 years. The land which rolls down to meet the sea and kilometres of deserted beachfront is the only freehold land on Dunk Island available and is also the resting place of E.J. Banfield, acclaimed author of Confessions of a Beachcomber. The block features famed artists’ retreat, mud brick gallery and three bed roomed duplex. The land is to be auctioned next month and is so rare valuers are unwilling to quote a price as there is no privately owned island property to compare it with.

Economic figures show Cairns is on top
Far North Queensland is booming in all areas, according to economic analysts. “The Cairns economy last month had what economists technically describe as a corker,” Rick Carr, Cairns research director for property advisors Herron Todd White said. “It was a month of records – record high employment, record low unemployment, record high job ads, record high airport figures, record low rental vacancies. I don’t think we have had it so good, at least not in the last 10 years or so,” he said.