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Local News
JANUARY 17, 2025
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Mayor’s exclusive chitchats
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A Luxury Car Hire Ford Mustang passes the famed Rex lookout on the Captain Cook Highway at Wangetti.
Picture: Tourism Tropical North Queensland
l CAIRNS REGION | Nick Dalton CAIRNS Mayor Amy Eden is holding the first in a series of exclusive mayoral roundtables with city business owners. They are limited to eight people to “encourage meaningful discussion,” she said. “I’m pleased to invite Cairns business owners to the inaugural mayoral roundtable on business, a forum for open discussion, innovative ideas and collaboration,” she said on Facebook. “The roundtable is a listening exercise, giving key business leaders across all sectors the chance to: • Share ideas, concerns and challenges • Put forward innovative solutions for our city’s future • Contribute to shaping Cairns as a hub of opportunity and growth. “It’s also an opportunity for me to present my vision for Cairns, focusing on how we can work together to support economic resilience, attract investment and empower our business community to thrive.” The first is on Tuesday, February 11. “This is just the beginning. More roundtables will be held throughout the year and my term as mayor to ensure all voices are heard,” Cr Eden said.
Epic road trip Drive to emulate Route 66 from Coolangatta to Cairns
l FAR NORTH | Nick Dalton TOURISM bosses have launched a campaign to drive an extra $3 billion into the state’s economy by showcasing the state by road from the Gold Coast to Cairns. The ‘Discover Queensland – TEQ’s
Drive Tourism Marketing Strategy 2032’ aims to boost revenue from drive holidays from $9bn a year to $12bn by the 2032 Olympics. The Sunshine State road trip aims to emulate the famous Route 66 in the US. It comes as both the Albanese and Crisafulli governments promise $10bn to bring the Bruce Highway up to accept-
able safety standards. The idea is for visitors to drive along the east coast and visit the many regional towns and locations with wacky Route 66-like roadside attractions such as the giant golden gumboot at Tully as well as making roads such as the spectacular Captain Cook Highway and the Bloomfield Track destinations in their own right.
Tourism and Events Queensland acting chief executive officer Ollie Philpot said he wanted travellers to make the 2000km-long ‘Pacific Coast Way’ synonymous with Queensland. “When people think of a road trip, we want them to think of Queensland – our very own version of Route 66,” he said. CONTINUED PAGE 3
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