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

Monday February 11, 2002 52nd Edition

It's hot - really hot. This time of year Cairns experiences some of the warmest weather but also some of the calmest, making it an excellent time to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Islands. There have been a number of political moves and announcements this week with the Queen's visit going ahead as planned providing some excellent news for the region.

Queens visit to go ahead
Following the death of Princess Margaret, there was some doubt about whether the Queen would still be visiting Australia for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting later this month. Official representatives have from Buckingham Palace have confirmed that the visit to Australia and Cairns will go ahead. The death of Princess Margaret will be mourned in Cairns and throughout Australia.

Value of Cairns exports grows by 42 percent
Exports from Cairns Airport grew to $135.8 million last financial year, a marked increase of 42 per cent. The majority of these exports consisted of live fish being shipped to Asian destinations such as Hong Kong and Japan. Fruit and vegetables were the next most popular products to be exported from the Airport. Growth in this industry set to increase later this year with the introduction of 30 new services per week from Australian Airlines.

Outrigger Hotel takes over new resort
The Hawaiian property management group, Outrigger Hotels, will be taking over the management and marketing of a new $50 million development at Palm Cove, north of Cairns. The waterfront property will be the third property being managed by the group in Cairns. The first phase of the development is due for completion in June 2002.

Local paper celebrates 120 years of delivering news
The Cairns Post has been delivering news to the people of Cairns for 120 years. Whilst the paper has undergone a number of major transformations during this period, it has managed to remain the one and only tabloid paper in Cairns. It has managed to keep abreast with Cairns during the good times and the bad over the last century. To celebrate the major milestone, The Cairns Post will be printing various stories from the last 100 years, highlighting the changes that have occurred in Cairns.

Cairns Mayor indicates that better times are ahead
Cairns Mayor Kevin Byrne has stated that the hard economic decision made by his Council in the first year of their term have had a dramatic impact on the financial position of the Cairns City Council, reducing the likelihood of any immediate price hikes for rates or water. Some facts and figures from the Cairns City Council Annual Report:

• The Cairns population is 122,592 according to the June 2000
  Australian Bureau of Statistics.
• Visitors per night 24,000 - 40,000
• Land area 1687sq km.
• Sealed roads - over 1000 km
• Rateable properties 52,000
• Rates revenue $85 million
• Net Council debt per ratepayer $2460
• Funding for capital works $42 million
• New capital assets $36 million
• Staff costs $40,191,227
• Council cash reserves $37.1 million

Calls to upgrade Port Douglas road
The 70 km stretch of road from Port Douglas to Cairns is considered one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world. It is very popular with tourists and local residents alike. The majority of the road is only two lanes, causing problems, particularly with heavy traffic such as large passenger coaches and sugar cane trucks that tend to slow traffic flow. Calls have been made to the State Minister for Transport, Mr Steve Bredhauer, to allocate funding to address the issue of traffic on this road and to make allowances for future works before demand reaches an unmanageable level.

The Taipans destroy the Crocodiles
In the NBL grudge match of the season, the Cairns Taipans have finally managed to defeat their archrivals, The Townsville Crocodiles. The game was played before a capacity audience in the Cairns Snake Pit on Friday night. The Taipans have come off second best in the last 8 encounters with the Crocs, making this victory a monumental occasion that will hopefully signal a change in fortune for the team.