Palm Cove News

June 2004

Cove okays Buchan Point nudists

MANY Palm Cove residents think Buchan Point Beach should be made legal for nudists, a phone ring-around has found. The beach has been used by nudists for many years but has never been officially made legal.
Following a complaint in 2001, police arrested people there for appearing nude. The issue has surfaced in light of a cruise ship containing 130 nudists which will arrive in Cairns next February. The pasengers will no doubt wish to visit a nude beach.
Tourism Palm Cove president Alex Whyte said he was in favour of Buchan Point as a designated nudist beach for Cairns.
"The nudist market is huge internationally : we have to keep abreast of the times," he said. "All the resort managers in Palm Cove are in favour of Buchans Point. The overseas visitors will want a beach reasonably close to their ship in Cairns.
"I believe nudists at Buchans Point Beach sunbake, swim, walk their dogs, and behave like any normal beach visitor."
Buchans Point Beach is relatively private. It cannot be seen from vehicles on the highway and is overlooked by a few houses on Buchans Point bluff and only at a distance.

Hedley plan approved with amendments

A PUBLIC MEETING plus 88 letters to council from local residents have resulted in an amended plan for Hedley Constructions' proposed apartment building on Veivers Rd between the tavern and Oliva St.
The amended plan was approved by the council last month. Councillors Sno Bonneau and Anette Shepherd voted against the amended approval but were outvoted.
Residents had objected to the design which they considered too high and not in character with other buildings in Palm Cove.
The amended plan reduces the height and number of apartments from 25 to 21. The residental levels are restricted to two storeys at the Veivers Rd end and three at the northern (opposite) end. There will be a two-storey car park underneath with entrances at the northern end.
The set-back from Oliva St will also be increased and landscaped.

SES students stay awake

"OUR students don't go to sleep at lectures because they learn by doing things," says Buchan Point State Emergency Services chief Tony Watts.
He said the branch trained volunteers in chain saws, driving four-wheel vehicles, first aid, field craft, map reading, navigation and a host of other skills.
The end of the wet season didn't mean the end of activity for the SES, he said.
"Just because the cyclone season has started to ease, SES people won't be hanging up their orange overalls."
Buchan Point/Palm Cove Branch can't have enough volunteers to act in emergency situations, Tony said.
"Anyone 16 and over is welcome to attend our two-hour training sessions on Wednesdays at 7.15pm, SES premises, Captain Cook Hwy (opposite Novotel golf links)," he said.
Phone 40553688.

Doubts about new Cove shopping centre

SEVERAL residents have said the idea of a new shopping centre behind the Paradise Village Shopping complex was a little premature.
The small permanent population of Palm Cove and Buchan Point would not support another shopping centre, they said.
The issue was raised in Cairns Northern News, April which said "moves were afoot to establish a shopping centre on the land."
However, Mr Pat Flanagan of Flanagan Consultants Group said: "No submission has been given to the council for a development (building) proposal, only a submission for the council to allow for a future shopping centre in the new town plan now being considered."
Mr Flanagan said the owners of the land wanted the town plan to allow for a shopping centre if and when it was required.
After receiving the submission, Cairns Council recently rezoned the large vacant property and allowed for a connecting road between Oliva St and Cedar Rd.
The land west of the road was rezoned from Residental 1 to Residential 2. The larger area east of the road remained at Residential 1.
Cr Sno Bonneau explained the difference in Cairns Northern News.
"Land zoned Residential 2 allows for some higher density development but limits heights so residents don't have high buildings over their back fences. Owners of property zoned Residential 1 need to advertise and go through normal application processes," he said.

Boyle, Clark look like winners

STATE MPs Desley Boyle and Leslie Clark have come out strongly against inappropriate hillside development in the Cairns area and should win the battle to save our slopes.
Boyle, former Cairns councillor and now Local Government & Planning Minister, is in a particularly strong position to enforce the government's will.
Ms Boyle is in charge of reviewing Cairns City Council's new town plan to ensure it adheres to State Government policy.
"I have been fighting to protect hillslopes from development since I became a councillor in 1988," she said.
Lesley Clark, Member for Barron River, is right there with Ms Boyle.
"Our beautiful rainforest covered backdrop is what makes Cairns unique. I am passionate about its protection from inappropriate development as are the majority of Cairns residents," she said in Cairns Post, May 19.

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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