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Green waste drop off
Free disposal, domestic only, 22-30 August... More
Mayor's Christmas Cheer Appeal
Locals helping locals, donate now... More
Coronavirus update
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When our Animal Management officers get a report of a dog attack they start a formal investigation process - a bit like Police responding to a crime.
This video takes you through the process so you know what to expect after reporting a dog attack.
If are a Cairns pet owner, be sure to follow our Cairns Pets Facebook page.
๐ด Our next Free Green Waste Disposal is back from Saturday 22 August to Sunday 30 August 2020.
Check the Facebook event for locations, opening times and conditions:
๐ Free Green Waste Disposal
Respond to the event โ๏ธ to receive Facebook reminders.
๐๏ธ Lastly, remember to bring some loose change for our voluntary gold coin donation, this time in support of The Mayors Christmas Cheer Appeal.
๐พ World #1 Ash Barty gave the new roof a tick of approval on Saturday, when she paired up with Mayor Bob Manning at the official opening.
It is hoped the new $2.7million structure will attract more events and top-class competitions to the Cairns International Tennis Centre.
๐พ Mayor Bob Manning officially welcomed tennis royalty to Cairns this morning with World number one Ash Barty joining John Millman, JP Smith and Lizette Cabrera at Edge Hill State School for a special visit.
The players are in town for a series of workshops, exhibition matches and to officially open the new roof over centre court at the Cairns International Tennis Centre.
โ ๏ธ Due to Covid-19 restrictions tomorrowโs event is not open to the general public.
๐๏ธ๐ท We are currently building a new sewage pump station on the corner of Sheridan and Lily streets in Cairns North.
When completed the enormous tank you can see in the clip will be completely submerged below ground, with only two small single level block buildings visible above ground which will house switchboards and Ergon equipment.
The new pump station will increase capacity and meet growing demand, accommodate future connections within the sewerage network, address odour control issues, and continue to provide a reliable sewer network to the community.
Once operational, it will have the capacity to pump up to 1,200 Litres per second to the Northern treatment plant (just north of Airport).
Eight years ago Chris Wightonโs life changed forever, when he broke his back and suffered a complete spinal injury in a freak mountain bike accident.
Today, the 63-year-old former Cairns youth worker took one of our new float chairs for a test drive at Palm Cove.
โBefore my accident, one of my great pleasures was running along the beach and plunging into the water. Since my accident, other than being on my kayak, Iโve probably only gone into the ocean from the beach maybe one timeโ, Chris said.
Council has purchased two beach wheelchairs for public use at Palm Cove and Ellis Beach, which can be accessed from the local Surf Life Saving Clubs.
Ellis Beach also has a mobi mat, which rolls over the sand and allows conventional wheelchairs to cross the soft sand to the hard sand. It can be used in combination with turn-out mats to allow people using a wheelchair to sit on the beach, or to transfer onto a new float chair.
The Ellis Beach float chair and mat are available during patrol times from April to November; Saturdayโs from midday and all day Sunday and public holidays.
The Palm Cove float chair is available all year round.
๏ฟฝYou can read the full media release on our website:
https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/news-publications/media-releases/releases/float-chairs
โ๏ธ Last chance to register for this evening's community workshop, discussing the impacts of sea level rise, storm tide inundation and erosion on our region from now until 2100.
Registration is essential!
Know of a spot in your neighbourhood that looks like this? Or that?
๐ฌ Tell us where in the comments (include a picture if you can).
The Great Northern Clean Up is not too far away now, and weโre looking for potential clean-up sites for September.
If youโve noticed litter, cigarette butts, waste or plastic piling up in a park or public place near you, please let us know.
For more information on the Great Northern Clean Up visit:
๐ https://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/gncu2020
๐ด๐ Cyclists encouraged to take the lane.
Yellow bicycles symbols are being painted on the road surface to show that cyclists should take the lane at single-lane roundabouts. Cyclists can still use the off road paths if they are available.
Find out more about this safety project and sharing the road in Cairns: ๐ https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/roads/share-the-road
The Riots of Parramatta Park
Riots at the Showgrounds? Yes, thatโs right, it was known as the Riot of 1932 and it happened in July that year when townspeople battled with squatters who had taken over the Showgrounds after making their way north looking for work during the Great Depression.
As homeless and jobless people made their way into Cairns during that period, they were allowed to camp in sporting ovals and the showgrounds but when the time for the annual show drew near, something had to give.
The squatters formed a committee and told their members to stay put until the Council provided them with accommodation, but that didnโt eventuate and the only legal way to evict them was through a court order that could take weeks.
The situation came to a head on Sunday 17 July when the townspeople, armed with sticks and other implements, met outside the showground gates led by Mayor William Collins, and confronted the squatters who grabbed anything they could use as a weapon. Police placed themselves between the two groups but to no avail as the battle began with both sides delivering blows with iron bars, fence posts with barbed wire around them, tent pegs, broken bottles and cane knives.
In the ensuing battle 26 citizens were hurt. Eventually the situation calmed but later much was said about the incident when Tully workers saying the โso-called citizens of Cairns who organised and led the brutal assault on the unemployed at Parramatta Park are blood-thirsty fiends of the lowest typeโ, while the Cairns Council was loud in its praise of the townspeople.
As they say, the Show did go on...
Historic photographs supplied by the Cairns Historical Society
#cairns #history #parramattapark #suburbs
๐ Join one of two Community Workshops to discuss coastal hazards (erosion, storm tides and sea level rise) along the Cairns coastline.
๐ Registration is essential!
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๐ Northern Beaches Workshop
Register at: https://bit.ly/2CPwAlt
Mon., 27 July 2020
5:00 pm โ 7:00 pm AEST
Council Chambers (Spence Street)
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๐ CBD & Southern Areas Workshop
Register at: https://bit.ly/2DYgXIJ
Tue., 28 July 2020
5:00 pm โ 7:00 pm AEST
Council Chambers (Spence Street)
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Dog rego renewals are due on 31 July. Have you paid yours yet?
You can pay:
๐ Quickly online via our Online Self Service portal https://bit.ly/3erTUT6
๐ป Using Bpay or internet banking
๐ In person at our Spence Street customer service centre
If you haven't received your dog rego renewal notice please get in touch on 1300 69 22 47 so we can sort it out.
And, did you know you can get your renewal notice via email? Register here: https://bit.ly/3iYB6yz
๐ฉ Hereโs a sticky figure for you: ๐ฉ
Dogs in Cairns produce around 2.76 million kilograms of poop each year. ๐ฎ
Thatโs a lot of poo โ and a lot of poo bags.
Seeing as it is Plastic Free July, we thought it was a great time to share that Cairns has avoided more than 1.3 million plastic dog waste bags since introducing compostable bioplastic bags in 2019.
The bags are available at most dog off-leash parks and popular walking areas. They are just one step towards a better solution for the environment.
โ ๏ธ Dog poop contains harmful bacteria that can flow into our waterways and ocean. So please keep on picking up and disposing of your dogโs waste.
Find out more about avoiding single use plastic this Plastic Free July on our website:
https://bit.ly/2OmqkE3
FUN FACTS:
-------------
๐ 23,000 dogs were registered in Cairns in 2019-2020
๐ฉ A medium dog produces approximately 120kg of poop a year
๐ฉ Put the two figures together and you get 2.76 million kilograms of dog poop a year in Cairns
๐๐ We've added a bit more cardio to your Earl Hill trek - with a secondary entry point to the popular trail opening today.
More than 300 steps make up a 370m link on the eastern side of the hill which joins walkers to recently completed work by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Helicopters and motorised wheel barrows were used to haul the steps into place. The new trail-head is accessed via Half Moon Bay Beach located at the end of Reed Road.
Earl Hill trail information:
โ๏ธ 45 stairs on the prefabricated staircase at the trail head
โ๏ธ 344 precast stairs on the track.
โ๏ธ Class 4 walking trail with a trail width of 1200mm to allow for passing
๐ต Lake Morris Road Closure
Lake Morris Road will be closed from Campbells lookout to the Copperlode Dam entrance gate to all traffic (including cyclists) for approximately three weeks from today (10 July).
The closure is necessary due to road pavement preparation works between Campbells lookout and the Copperlode Dam entrance gate.
Cyclists are advised not to proceed past the lookout gate. Traffic management will be in place for essential worker access.
Motorists are asked to observe and obey traffic controllers.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time.
๐ Cairns Suburb History
Brinsmead the father of tourism in Cairns?
Itโs amazing what you find out when you look at the names of our suburbs and discover where they came from. Take Brinsmead for example. It was named after Horace George Brinsmead who came to Cairns from Melbourne around 1881. He obtained land on the Barron River Flats at Freshwater and began cane farming in 1882. He called his plantation 'Virginia Plantation'.
Brinsmead died in 1908. He is remembered for being very active in civic affairs and served on the Cairns Divisional Board and other associations. But importantly, he is also remembered for being the โFather of Cairns Tourismโ because he started one of the first tourism ventures in the district and apparently took the first tourist party to view the Barron River Falls in 1885.
An article in the Cairns Post of January 29th, 1885 reported that: โA large party of gentlemen accompanied Mr. H. Brinsmead on a visit to the Barron Falls on Tuesday last. This trip is now becoming quite a fashionable resort for pleasure parties. There can be no doubt the โfallsโ will during a year or so, become one of the โgreat toursโ from Cairns. We venture to say this is one of the grandest sights to be seen in these colonies and the tourist would be well repaid even if a journey of several weeks had to be made instead of two days which it takes at the present time.โ
His role on the Cairns Divisional Board meeting was also pretty important insofar that it was Brinsmead who moved the motion that Cairns take the necessary steps to become a Municipality. And the rest, as they say, is historyโฆ
Historic photograph of Brinsmead (area) supplied by the Cairns Historical Society
#cairns #history #brinsmead #suburbs
๐
ฟ๏ธ๐ Enforcing of parking fines in the CBD will resume on Monday, July 20.
While many people have continued to pay for parking, Council hasnโt issued parking fines for not purchasing a ticket or staying past the time limit since 16 March.
From 13 July Council will issue warnings to drivers who donโt purchase a ticket or stay beyond the time limit. Fines will then resume on 20 July to help free up parking and make the city more accessible to shoppers and visitors
Remember, centre median parking in the CBD is always free, with time limits. Heavily discounted all-day parking is also available at several of Councilโs off-street car parks, including the Lake Street multistorey car park.
We has also resolved not to implement the 20c an hour increase on parking fees that was due to come into effect on 2 January 2021.
There are approximately 3000 parking spaces in the CBD, of which about 830 are free, although they are time limited.
You can find the full media release on our website at:
๐ https://bit.ly/3gDsk75
๐บ The Red Jade Vine at Munro Martin Parklands is in full bloom right now. It's the perfect spot for a lunch time picnic. ๐
We are looking for a Horticultural Apprentice to join our Central Parks Operations team. Find out more and how to apply at
๐ https://bit.ly/2ZKrxdz
โ๏ธ Fixed term (4 years)
โ๏ธ Certificate III in Horticulture
โ๏ธ Up to 5 weeks annual leave
โ๏ธ 9 day fortnight roster
๐ท Ivan Evans walking track closure
๐
Thursday, July 9 and Friday, July 10
Ivan Evans walking track in Bayview Heights will be closed for two days for tree maintenance works on Thursday July 9 and Friday July 10, weather permitting.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
๐ Councilโs Active Living fitness classes will resume on Monday (6 July) after Stage 3 of the Queensland Governmentโs โeasing of restrictionsโ was brought forward.
ESPLANADE CLASSES*
๐
Monday:
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Seniors Steady Steps - 9.30am
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/3eVnf9C
๐
Tuesday:
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Zumba Fitness - 5.30pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/3imctLI
Beach Volleyball - 5.30pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/3dZ7UUx
๐
Wednesday:
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Chi Gong and Flow Yoga - 6.30am
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/3goJPbj
Aqua Zumba - 5pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/31BKiTl
๐
Thursday:
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Pilates - 6.30am
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/3glUfIK
Skateboarding - 5.30pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/2YOvu1E
๐
Saturday:
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Aqua Aerobics - 9am
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/2BVoUxq
CLASSES IN THE SUBURBS*
๐ Brinsmead
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Zumba - Monaday, 5pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/2VE9Tab
๐ Edmonton
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Fitness for All - Friday, 9.30am (starting 17 July)
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/2ZtwwPR
Zumba - Friday 5pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/2NLv7P1
๐ Gordonvale:
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Zumba - Thursday, 5pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/3gmbHNd
๐ Manunda:
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Fitness for All - 5pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/2VCWH5w
๐ Trinity Beach:
--------------
Seniors Fitness - Tuesday, 9am
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/31BjhPD
Fitness for All - Friday, 9am (starting July 17)
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/3eV2IlF
๐ Yorkeyโs Knob
--------------
Seniors Fitness - Wednesday, 9am
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/2NTIyMR
Fitness for All - Thursday, 5pm
More info ๐ https://bit.ly/38iQX62
* Esplanade classes will resume as normal, while a new schedule has been developed for the suburbs, including new locations, after the program was extended through $20,000 in funding from the North Queensland Sports Foundation.
Land-based classes will be capped at 100 people, while aqua zumba and aqua aerobics will be capped at 150*. Participants must maintain 1.5m from others and provide their personal details for contact tracing purposes, as mandated by the State Government.
The Bouldering class on the Cairns Esplanade will not resume just yet, as social distancing cannot be maintained, and the start of Tai Chi and meditation classes is delayed as instructors are unavailable.
