Palm Cove News


FEBRUARY 2004

Hoons on Cedar Road

DRAGSTERS and bikers at 150kph were out front recently, Cedar Road resident Dr Alexandria Berger says.
" Not only that, our home was vandalized on 28 Dec and house lights were cut leaving bare live wires. They tried to hot-wire a car next door and they overturned rubbish bins. We need a police presence here," she told Palm Cove News.
Dr Berger said she would like to see a citizen and retailer's association started in Palm Cove.
"It would carry more weight when dealing with the authorities," she said.


Irukandji traps doing job

SMALL jellyfish traps installed in the channel between Palm Cove and Double Island are providing adequate warning of the tiny irukandji menace, lifeguard Andrew Barton says.
"The traps are checked three times a day. If any irukandji are found, the beach is closed until the risk has gone," he said.
Fine mesh nets, being quite expensive and difficult to operate in choppy seas, are not used at the moment.
Irukandji can frequent both reef and mainland waters; 40 people are hospitalized each year from the vicious sting. One million people visit the reef annually.

Reef House Awards

SEBEL REEF HOUSE & SPA won the prestigious Deluxe Accommodation Award at the TNQ Tourism Awards recently.
The award followed a much-coveted star rating for the restaurant in Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide for 2004. General Manager Craig Biber said the restaurant was the only one in Cairns to receive the rating and only one of two in Tropical North Queensland.
"The awards are a great honour, particularly at such a significant stage in the evolution of Palm Cove," he said in Northern News, November.


Kayaks up early

KAYAK TOURS of Double Island now start at 5.30am for a cheaper ride, says operator Tony Worth.
Sunrise tours cost $40 + $5 insurance; half-day $65 + $5; sunset $40 + $5.
"The sunrise tour has been popular," he said. "From the resort side of the island, you can see the sun rise, have champagne and strawberries, and mix it with green back turtles, manta rays, and dolphins.
"We have been seeing a lot of movement and have been told there are going to be some famous faces on the island over the next few months."
Bookings 0402 861 011


Letter to Editor

I would like to thank all the many people of Palm Cove for the welcome and kindness they showed me. It made my special holiday even more special. Thanks. Don't go away, I'll be back (from UK.)
- Sheila, (Boe's mum, Trivia St.)

Change of name

Wild World is now called Cairns Tropical Zoo. "We have been confused with a water slide park, a theme park, and even a porn shop!" Sales Manager Larry Russell said.



Editorial


ALABAMA BOY MAKES GOOD

BUDDY BYRD got into the hospitality business because he wanted to work somewhere close to the surf.
Finishing his education in Hawaii where he spent much of his spare time on a surf board, he reckoned a job at a hotel right on the beach was just the ticket. Now 43 and still very keen on all water sports - diving, sailing, surfing (at Gold Coast) - William Larry Byrd Jnr says running Palm Cove's biggest commercial enterprise, rearing five kids with wife Yvonne, and refurbishing their Talpa Close home is all pretty hectic. Yvonne, who hails from Perth, met her future husband on the Gold Coast. They both agree that Novotel Palm Cove, with 41 hectares of land, 20 departments, 246 rooms, and 163 employees including six indigenous workers is no small responsibility. Buddy was born in Alabama, USA, spending time in New York, Fiji, seven years manager of Novotel Darwin, four years manager of Grand Mercure Hotel, Broadbeach, and now three years at Cove.
Novotel Palm Cove is very protective of its flora and fauna, says Buddy.
"This is partly because the owners, the Ho family, are Buddhists and very conscious of the environment. They have erected a small Buddhist shrine at the northern end of the property and offer a daily thanks for the land, the trees, and the resident animals," he said.Novotel have plans all approved for a new apartment block; but considering the sudden tremendous increase in accommodation units all over Palm Cove, the owners have adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
In the meantime, last year provided a 75 percent occupancy rate for Novotel; and tourism awards for Spice Market Restaurant and the conference centre just keep coming.
And what does Buddy Byrd think of Palm Cove?
"Love it," he said.

Published by Jerry Dukes
52 Terebra St
Palm Cove 4879 QLD
Ph 4059 1610 Fax 4059 0058
Email : jgdukes@ozemail.com.au
On website : http://www.palmcove.net

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