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

Monday August 6, 2001 26th Edition

The biggest news in Cairns this week has been a cold snap that has frozen the region to the core. Whilst the cooler dry season is the time of year that local residents can sit back and enjoy crisp nights and clear days, temperatures have dropped to record lows and in some areas the mercury plummeted below zero, something that is almost unheard of in the tropical north.

Cityport Project starts to heat up
The Cairns Cityport project is in the final planning stages before commencement of work later this month. The finishing touches are being put on the plan, which includes the location of cafes, retail shops, restaurants and hotels. The total project is valued at over $100 million and work is expected to commence within several weeks.

QANTAS announces a further two flights from Japan
In what is proving to be an excellent year for tourism and hot on the heels of a recent announcement by QANTAS to introduce four direct flights per week from Osaka to Cairns, the airline has announced a further two direct flights per week starting in November with the possibility of more to be announced. Japanese tourism is booming in Cairns and the Chinese market is rapidly catching up. Some experts believe that within five years the Chinese market will have overtaken the Japanese market as the number one tourim nationality for Cairns.

Shakaya signs up with major label
In two short weeks Cairns singing duo Shakaya have been signed up with the largest record label in the world, Sony Music. The two singer-songwriters, Naomi Wenitong and Simone Stacey were quickly picked up by the Sony executives who have realised the full potential of the duo. Their first single, Stop Stalking Me, is due in the shops in about six weeks. A video for the single will be shot in Cairns.

Novotel leads the way in a push for indigenous jobs
The Palm Cove Novotel is leading the way in a local campaign to employ 100 indigenous workers in the hotel industry in the next year. The resorts General Manager, Buddy Byrd, announced plans for the resort to employ a further 18 staff as part of the promised 100 indigenous workers announced hotel group Accor.

Atherton hits zero
Atherton residents have a claim to fame that they probably never imagined would happen. The temperature dropped to zero one night last week, for the first time on record. The temperature dropped to 7.9C in Cairns on Sunday morning, making it the coldest night in 36 years. Overnight temperatures are expected to rise in the first few weeks of August, much to the joy of most tropical North Queensland residents.

Private company fills the gap left by PNG consulate
A private company has moved to fill the void in business services left with the closing of the PNG consulate last month. PNG VISA and Business Service provides a range of service for people wishing to travel or do business in PNG. Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Mr Bob Norman has welcomed the move.

Ospreys become parents
Last year two Ospreys (large birds of prey) built a nest on top of an emergency services tower. The somewhat precarious nest has been a popular site, surviving close encounters with several cyclones. In recent weeks two juvenile ospreys have been seen taking test flights from the nest, with more than a few bumpy landings. The tower was modified to accommodate the protected birds and by all appearances, it has been a successful relationship.

Police tackle careless drivers
In a Cairns wide crack down police have targeted reckless and careless drivers with over 100 motorists being fined for making illegal lane changes on notorious roundabouts across the city. Roundabouts have been common targets for police crackdowns in recent years with many people claiming that there is a general lack of understanding from the community on how to use these traffic-controlling features correctly.

Graffiti becoming accepted as an art form
Graffiti has long been regarded as a major problem rather than an artform. Recent studies by James Cook University show that more people in the community regard graffiti as an art rather than an act of vandalism. Legitimate street art is being considered as a deterrent for poorly done graffiti commonly known as tagging. A number of Cairns Graffiti Artists were being commissioned to do work in and around Cairns.

Cairns Central Shopping Centre close to being sold
Cairns largest shopping centre, Cairns Central is on the verge of being sold to Lend Lease Australia. The centre, which is believed to be worth in the vicinity of $500 million is expected to sold in the coming weeks.