Palm Cove News

MARCH, 2001

Sno pleased with

support

Editorial

NEW TOWN PLAN

COUNCIL'S

The people who live on the spot are the ones who know the score.

Palm Cove's residents are in favour of mixing residential and tourism areas.

Actually, this town's future development should be left to market forces.

We are a large tourist industry here and a significant percentage of the population is involved in or works for the industry.

Any industry, whether it's manufacturing, coal mining, or tourism, should be given the space it needs to expand.

Clifton Beach, Kewarra and the other beach suburbs are all mainly residential.

With our jetty, our large resorts, golf course, and boutique shops, Palm Cove is the main tourist beach area for the Cairns region, and it's likely to grow.

Any decision by Council to put residential and tourism into designated areas for Palm Cove might inevitably, in the long run, prove wrong.

A HUGE swing towards Labor, the removal of Palm Cove and Clifton Beach into the Cook electorate, and advertisements and letters encouraging people to keep him in Council all had an impact on the outcome of the recent State election, Sno Bonneau said last week.

"Despite these influences, after preferences were allocated, I ended up with 8031 votes behind Lesley Clark on 10759, and I am very grateful to all those who placed their faith in me and came forward to help with the campaign and on election day," he said.

When asked if he might have won if Palm Cove and Clifton Beach had remained in Barron River, Sno said : "It would have made a significant difference. Traditionally Palm Cove and Clifton have not been strong Labor areas, and many people contacted me angry to find they had been relocated and couldn't vote for me.

"However, the decisions have been

made and the results are in, and we have to move on. While naturally disappointed at not winning, I am very pleased to have attracted such a significant number of votes in what was a very short campaign with a limited budget and resources," he said.

Sno said he was also very disappointed that Lesley Clark was involved with her supporters in distributing letters to residents saying he was doing such as good job as a councillor that he was better to stay in
Council. There were also advertisements placed in newspapers saying the same thing.

Regarding the next State elections in three years time, he said council elections were to be held around the same time, and a decision would have to be made then about which direction to go.

Sno said he was appalled at the size of donations to the Labor Party from industry and commerce. "Even the tobacco industry (Phillip Morris) gave $5,000 to Labor and the Nationals," he said.

Total donations were : Labor $2,183,095; Liberals $522,267; and Qld Nationals $164,383. (Source : Courier Mail, Feb 3).

We plan our town

PALM COVE residents are in favour of mixing tourist and residential areas, a report in The Sun, Feb 6 said.

The report followed recent consultations between council officers and residents at public meetings on the northern beaches.

At Courtyard on Dec 13, residents were invited to submit written suggestions on how their particular area should be planned.

Those at Kewarra and Clifton Beach meetings were against mixing the two areas, but Palm Cove people were for it.

(See Editorial : New Town Plan)

Crocs faster than Ian

ESTAURINE crocodiles can swim faster than 25 km/h, whereas Ian Thorpe's best speed is 7.2 km/h, we have estimated.

Crocodiles will eat people, Cairns Post of Feb 9 said, but they don't go out of their way to hunt humans.

"Crocodiles eat other crocodiles," the report said. "Cannibalism helps to keep the species strong as the weak become dinner."

Mission Beach identity Dave Nissen says the father croc does his best to make a meal of a dozen or more baby crocs as soon as they are hatched.

"Only the smartest and quickest survive," he said.

In the 1980s, 8 people died from crocodile attacks. During the same period:

* 19 people died from lightening strikes

* 21 people died from bee stings

* 32,000 people died from car accidents.

From 1990 to 1998 inclusive, 2 people died in Australia from crocodile attack.

Beach Club selling well

Cove's latest development, The Beach Club on the esplanade, has sold 22 out of 26 apartments off the plans, also all seven retail shops, Ian Beattie of Quaid Real Estate said last week.

"Three restaurants are still to be sold, and these will be offered when construction commences which we expect will be early April," he said.

The apartments have balconies of 8m to 12m wide and private spa baths with a view of the beach.

Octogenarian keeps winning

BABINDA'S Margaret Russell, 86, won the 70 years+ women's category in the Tri Heart Enticer Triathlon held at Novotel, Feb 17.

The triathlon, for anyone over the age of

seven, is a swim/cycle/run event held annually at the big resort.

Margaret, a living legend in North Queensland, has won gold for age championships in swimming, athletes, cycling, and triathlon.

Published by Jerry Dukes, 52Terebra St Palm

Cove 4879. Ph 40591610; Fax 40590058

Email : jdukes@ozemail.com.au