Welcome to Cairns Regional Council
Latest News
Active Living is back!
Free fitness classes, suburbs and Esplanade... More
Coronavirus update
Latest info on Council services More
Flying-fox relocation
Flying-foxes are relocating to a new home ... More
Like us to stay up to date
🚵 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.
📜 Cairns Suburb History
Brinsmead the father of tourism in Cairns?
It’s 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 “Father of Cairns Tourism” 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: “A 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 ‘falls’ will during a year or so, become one of the ‘great tours’ 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.”
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 history…
Historic photograph of Brinsmead (area) supplied by the Cairns Historical Society
#cairns #history #brinsmead #suburbs
🅿️🚗 Enforcing of parking fines in the CBD will resume on Monday, July 20.
While many people have continued to pay for parking, Council hasn’t 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 don’t 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 Council’s 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:
👉 https://bit.ly/3gDsk75
🌺 The Red Jade Vine at Munro Martin Parklands is in full bloom right now. It's the perfect spot for a lunch time picnic. 🌞
We are looking for a Horticultural Apprentice to join our Central Parks Operations team. Find out more and how to apply at
👉 https://bit.ly/2ZKrxdz
✔️ Fixed term (4 years)
✔️ Certificate III in Horticulture
✔️ Up to 5 weeks annual leave
✔️ 9 day fortnight roster
🚷 Ivan Evans walking track closure
📅 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.
🙌 Council’s Active Living fitness classes will resume on Monday (6 July) after Stage 3 of the Queensland Government’s ‘easing of restrictions’ was brought forward.
ESPLANADE CLASSES*
📅 Monday:
--------------
Seniors Steady Steps - 9.30am
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/3eVnf9C
📅 Tuesday:
--------------
Zumba Fitness - 5.30pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/3imctLI
Beach Volleyball - 5.30pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/3dZ7UUx
📅 Wednesday:
--------------
Chi Gong and Flow Yoga - 6.30am
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/3goJPbj
Aqua Zumba - 5pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/31BKiTl
📅 Thursday:
--------------
Pilates - 6.30am
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/3glUfIK
Skateboarding - 5.30pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/2YOvu1E
📅 Saturday:
--------------
Aqua Aerobics - 9am
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/2BVoUxq
CLASSES IN THE SUBURBS*
📍 Brinsmead
--------------
Zumba - Monaday, 5pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/2VE9Tab
📍 Edmonton
--------------
Fitness for All - Friday, 9.30am (starting 17 July)
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/2ZtwwPR
Zumba - Friday 5pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/2NLv7P1
📍 Gordonvale:
--------------
Zumba - Thursday, 5pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/3gmbHNd
📍 Manunda:
--------------
Fitness for All - 5pm
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/2VCWH5w
📍 Trinity Beach:
--------------
Seniors Fitness - Tuesday, 9am
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/31BjhPD
Fitness for All - Friday, 9am (starting July 17)
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/3eV2IlF
📍 Yorkey’s Knob
--------------
Seniors Fitness - Wednesday, 9am
More info 👉 https://bit.ly/2NTIyMR
Fitness for All - Thursday, 5pm
More info 👉 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.
Council has announced a record $181 million Capital Works program as part of its 2020-21 Budget. It includes $28.7 million for the Esplanade Dining Precinct redevelopment, $10.9 million to complete the new Material Recovery Facility, and $10.7 to progress the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail. In adopting today’s Budget, which will inject $396 million into the local economy through employment and materials, Council has endorsed a modest 1.8 per cent rate rise. Check out what else is in the Budget https://bit.ly/2CUPur1
💦🏖 Lagoon reopens in time for school holidays
The Cairns Esplanade Lagoon will reopen on Monday 29 June, following its biennial maintenance program.
ℹ️The Lagoon will operate under a site-specific COVID Safe Plan.
This will include capping the number of bathers at 150, and gatherings are restricted to 20 people in the lagoon and on the surrounding parklands.
🚹🚺🚼 The toilets, showers and changing rooms are open for use and will be cleaned more frequently.
🕕 The lagoon will be open seven days a week, Thursday to Tuesday from 6am to 6pm, and from midday to 6pm on Wednesday to allow for weekly maintenance.
People attending the Lagoon are reminded to follow social distancing rules and practice good personal hygiene.
🎤🎸🎻 Life finally returns to the stage!
A series of eight events, over five weekends, at Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Tanks Arts Centre is set for take-off to help support the local performing artists industry.
⭐ An Evening with David Hudson
(Saturday 11 July at CPAC)
⭐ Knocking Off The Rust: The Best of Cairns Comedy
(Saturday 18 July at CPAC)
⭐ Zennith Soundsystem
(Saturday 18 July at Tanks)
⭐ Jeremiah Johnson
(Friday 24 July at Tanks)
⭐ Classical Inspirations by Orchid Quartet
(Saturday 25 July at CPAC)
⭐ Leanne Tennant
(Friday 31 July at Tanks)
⭐ Best of Understory Film Festival
(Saturday 1 August at CPAC)
⭐ Greta Stanley
(Friday 7 August at Tanks)
ℹ️ All events will follow Queensland Government Stage 3 COVID guidelines, which at this stage limits the audience to 100 people.
Tickets, available now from Ticketlink, range from $15.75 to $26.25 and are strictly limited to adhere to audience capacity restrictions.
Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Tanks Arts Centre are two of six state-wide venues participating in the Queensland Government’s Venue Pilot Program, funded through Arts Queensland, to pilot re-openings and deliver programming under COVID restrictions.
🌜⛔ Night time lock out for lookout
Council is hoping to make late night hooning and partying at Campbell's Lookout on Lake Morris Road a thing of the past by stopping vehicle access to the site after 8pm.
We are calling for community feedback on a proposal to stop vehicle access to the lookout each night, from 8pm to 6am.
A gate – to be installed below the lookout and just above the highest property on Lake Morris Road – will allow vehicles to exit downhill to the Cairns Western Arterial Road, but it will prevent uphill vehicle access between 8pm and 6am.
Council also plans to install CCTV surveillance at the gate, along with warning signage with details about closure and opening times.
All hours road access would still be possible for cyclists and pedestrians.
Residents can provide feedback on this proposal by emailing feedback@cairns.qld.gov.au by Friday 26 June.
This morning we found this unfortunate scene at Goomboora Park.
We have not been able to identify the owner as yet. As far as we are aware no one was injured in the incident.
The branch that damaged the car fell from a close by tree from a height of about 5-6 metres.
⚠️🚱 Yorkeys Knob planned overnight water service interruption ⚠️
Water supply to Yorkeys Knob will be interrupted overnight on Thursday 18 June, from 9pm until 5am the following morning.
The water supply will be switched off to allow us to connect an alternative water supply route from Moore Road reservoir in the north and improve water security for the area.
Residents are advised to make arrangements for the overnight water outage by storing water that may be needed for essential use during that time.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciates the patience of residents during these works.
😔
☀️🔌 Solar farms power emissions reductions
Construction is underway on four mini solar farms, and additional roof-mounted solar panels, at five of the Cairns Region’s Waste Water Treatment Plants.
The mini solar farms will generate an estimated 2.92 gigawatt hours of energy each year. This will provide 25 per cent of the total energy requirements of the wastewater treatment plants and feed some power back into the grid.
To find out more read the full media release here:
👉 https://bit.ly/2XSjkVi
