Palm Cove News
Tropical North Queensland


January 2006

Melaleucas checked for deadwood

PALM COVE'S 90 melaleuca trees (aka paperbarks) have had a comprehensive check for problem branches which may have become unsafe in the past 12 months. The program, known as deadwooding, was carried out in mid December. Council staff and contractors took a week to complete the check using climbers, ground crew and cherrypicker. The pre-cyclone check followed reports of dry branches dropping in the area in early December. Cr Sno Bonneau said the check was made annually. "We normally do our tree check a little earlier but had difficulty getting qualified contractors on site because of other commitments," he said.
Tree experts have said December had been a period of great stress for the melaleucas because of seasonal conditions including the late arrival of the wet season. To help in their survival trees would often shed leaves and branches.
"Council staff recently commissioned two reports from qualified arborists on the overall condition of the village's famous trees, and work will begin early in the new year to carry out their recommendations," Cr Bonneau said.
He said private property owners with melaleucas on the property should ensure their trees were checked.
"Council staff will, however, notify private property owners of any problems they notice, but it will be up to the owners to have the work done," he said.

 

Life's great at the jetty

IT'S a calm and balmy December evening with waves gently lapping the uprights of the jetty.
Doug Lennon and his mates at the end are having a beer and swapping yarns the way men do when they feel comfortable with each other. Suddenly, one of the fishing reels jerks and spins, a five kilo mackerel on the line, unhappy with a hook in its jaw. Doug takes his time, he's done it a hundred times. The other hopefuls along the pier watch as he reels in his prize and kills it. They wonder what they have to do to catch one, just one, of those magnificent fish. Doug is the caravan park's manager with wife Irene. He wheels his pneumatic-tyre trolley a mere 100 metres to the jetty to indulge his favourite pastime. One of Palm Cove's unofficial tourist attractions, the trolley has a top bench, a tackle box, bar, CD player, stove, fridge, and posters all over. Music from the CD enriches the atmosphere as the master fisherman produces his frying pan and cooks the mackerel fillets."I've got some pork chops, we'll cook those too," he tells his mates. The odour of fried meat wafts down the jetty adding to the envy of the empty-handed hopefuls. Irene at home doesn't mind. "Friday night is boys night out," she says. "I'll cook myself something." Doug cracks another can and chats with a couple of tourists. "Life," he says, "doesn't get any better than this."

 

Goldfinch Park deadline extended

PUBLIC COMENTS on proposed plans for Goldfinch Park can now be made up to Feb 28th, the council has advised.
The plans are on display at the caravan park office, on www.cairns.qld.gov.au, or hotline 4040 6575. Comments to CEO, CCC, Box 359, Cairns 4870, or email feedback@cairns.qld.gov.au
So far, two draft plans are displayed : one which enables the existing boat ramp to be used with appropriate parking for vehicles and trailers; and one that entails the non-use of the ramp releasing more space for public use.
Cr Sno Bonneau said the plans were for discussion only and that nothing was "set in concrete."
He said council would consider all suggestions and ideas. One suggestion was that council did nothing.
"This option could eventually see the caravan park closed as the present facilities at the park would become increasingly difficult to maintain to health and industry standard requirements," he said.

 

Letters to Editor

I saw your newsletter (July 05) and read about Les and Betty Barnett living in Palm Cove for 25 years. My parents Bob and Jennifer Reddacliff have been at 61 Terebra St for 31 years. They say they have seen a lot of people come and go over those 30 years. My mother spent five years as local postmaster and many years working in resorts such as Ramada (now Drift) and Eden Coral Coast Resort (Novotel). I can still remember when Cedar Road was unsealed and the steps of the old post office at the corner of Veivers Rd and the esplanade that led to nowhere. (We asked David what he meant by this and he said he referred to concrete steps left standing when the building was demolished. He was only four at the time and the local kids were fascinated with the steps in the swamp going nowhere.)
My uncle and aunt at 43 Veivers Rd had what I thought was then and still is the deepest pool in town (about 20 feet deep for high diving). The house is long gone but still there are the walls and edging of the pool which is now filled with dirt.
While my mother was cleaning out a few draws she came across an old pamphlet of an aerial view advertising Coconut Coast Estate (circa late 60s). This estate was all virgin land and contained what is now Terebra, Thais, Talpa, Trivia, Cowrie,Lambus, Drupa and Harpa Streets. There is an arrow on the plan indicating the block which the young couple selected for their home.
David Reddacliff, Yorkeys Knob. Anyone wanting a free copy of the pamphlet can get it from 52 Terebra St.

 

Boat ramp a fizzer

PALM COVE'S boat ramp is in the wrong place, says recreational fishermen.
Doug Lennon of the caravan park said many boaties used the ramp "once but never again," he has been told.
"Even a small wave will wash into the rear of your boat as it slides off the trailer when launching," he said.
"If your battery is not completely waterproofed, seawater will ruin it. Not only that, you go out with several gallons of seawater in the boat and the only way you can get rid of it is to winch the boat back onto the trailer and unscrew the plug. As you are getting ready to start the winch, a couple more waves flood the boat often making it too heavy to winch."
Doug said a more sheltered site was needed for a ramp.

 

Exit slimy tennis balls

TIRED of picking up a ball and throwing it for your dog to fetch? Worry no more, Chuckit has arrived.
Made of lightweight durable plastic, it grasps the ball - you don't have to bend down - and enables you to throw it as far as 50 metres. See www.chuckit.com
Try your local pet shop.

Published by Jerry Dukes
52 Terebra St
Palm Cove 4879 QLD
Ph 4059 1610 Fax 4059 0058
Email : info@palmcovenewsletter.com
On website : http://www.palmcovenewsletter.com

Palm Cove's Official Website: http://www.palmcove.net