Palm Cove News / SEPTEMBER, 2002

No meters in Cove

COUNCIL is looking at parking problems in Palm Cove but there is no intention to install parking meters, CEO David Farmer says.

However, an extension of the regulated parking zone was necessary to enforce time restrictions on certain parking spaces, he said. Council passed the legislation last week. "I can state categorically that there is no intention what-so-ever to introduce metered parking across the city or in the northern beach suburbs," Farmer said. "What council has passed is an extension of the regulated parking zone, which up to now stretched from the Barron River south to Edmonton. This will allow council to respond in the future to calls for parking regulation without having to go through an expensive and lengthy local law process every time."
The Cairns Post editorial of 20 August said any move to install meters in popular tourist spots such as Palm Cove and Trinity Beach would be met with horror by residential motorists.
"The beauty of these beaches is the laidback atmosphere and casual lifestyle. The introduction of parking meters and the issuing of tickets would destroy this amenity," the newspaper said.
A committee has been set up to try and find answers to Cove's parking problems. The committee includes Bob Shaw (Reef Retreat), Tony Richards (Paradise Resort), Carol Farley (Boutique),Theresa Warner (Post Office), Alex Whyte (Villa Paradiso), Cr Sno Bonneau, Robert van den Hoven (Apres Bar), Tony Lenthall (Supermarket) and a council representative.

Long lunch a sure winner

Hop in for your tickets, people. Individual tickets and corporate tables for 10 for the long lunch are selling fast, says Robert van den Hoven.

At two weeks before the event, hundreds of individual tickets and up to 80 corporate tables had been sold. "People are coming from Port Douglas, locals, interstate, and overseas; and at this rate we could be booked solid pretty soon," Robert said. Named The Pacific Toyota Palm Cove Fiesta, the picnic box gourmet lunch will be on a long line of tables under the palms on the esplanade between Cedar Road and Harpa St.
"The main area will be fenced off and when you arrive with your ticket you will be presented with a gourmet picnic box for two and a map showing where you will sit," Robert said.

There will be wine and other drinks available for you to buy.

The idea was originally a try at setting the world record for the longest lunch; but when they found 27,000 diners in France had been served by waiters on bicycles, the committee decided the signiture event would become part of the inaugural Festival Cairns. What to wear? Take your pick : elegant, fiesta style, flamboyant, brightly-coloured polo-shirts, leis, or just plain smart casual.
With a mouth-watering selection of food from Palm Cove's top chefs and roaming street theatre and performance artists, the lunch should undoubtedly add to your pleasant book of memories.

The date is Sunday, September 8th, noon to 4pm. Tickets $22.50 per head, corporate tables of 10 $550. Phone 4055 3901 or email fiesta@tourismpalmcove.com. Credit cards or cash. Tickets must be ordered by Tuesday, Sept 3.

Clarion call

Courtyard by Marriott Great Barrier Reef Resort is now called Clarion Resort Great Barrier Reef.
Choice Hotel Group (formerly Flag/Choice Group) purchased the popular resort in June. The new owners intend to make the resort a five-star property.

Remarkable he is

THE feats of Bertil Smark Nilsson are truly remarkable.
Father of two and a teacher by profession, he operated his own computer business in Sydney and travelled alone this year to Sweden for a student reunion. "What's so remarkable about that?" you ask. Bertil has been blind since birth. One has only to watch him work his computer to get an inkling of his abilities. When you see him receiving a page of email, speaking precisely and quickly the words which appear on his screen, his mobile fingers receiving the message from tiny keys on his braille-operated keyboard, you marvel at the adaptability of the human body. Bertil has married twice. His second wife of eighteen years is Jan Smark Nilssen. Jan is the former wife of the late Peter Smark, well-known Sydney journalist and writer. Jan and Bertil met in Brazil at a conference for the World Blind Union. The happy couple have no trouble filling their days in their Terebra St residence. Jan's recent book, set in Vietnam, is being considered by a publisher. Bertil does consulting work in computers and also the translation of English, Swedish, French, and German material, both literary and technical.

Editorial

PARKING PROBLEMS

Mayor Kevin Byrne, himself a local, correctly observed that workers stay in (the esplanade) parking spaces all day. This is not good for tourism, business, or customers. But enforcing time limits has been difficult.
Up to now, if anyone parked illegally (say, in Caryota Close), police had to be called. It was a 15 minute trip out from Smithfield and another 15 minutes back. By the time they arrived, the offender could have gone. Council inspectors could not patrol Palm Cove as it was outside the regulated parking zone. As council has extended the zone to cover the whole of Cairns including Palm Cove, we could now have parking inspectors. The newly-appointed committee will no doubt consider local opinions on the problem and work closely with council for a satisfactory solution, which, we hope, does not include parking meters.

Published by Jerry Dukes, 52Terebra St Palm
Cove 4879. Ph 40591610; Fax 40590058

Email : jdukes@ozemail.com.au

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