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Local News
DECEMBER 20, 2024
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FNQ’s ‘A team’
Trio of LNP pollies pledge to fight for the region at all costs l FAR NORTH | Nick Dalton A TRIO of LNP MPs in the Far North have joined forces to ensure the region is not left behind by Brisbane. Newly-elected Mulgrave MP Terry James, Barron River MP Bree James and Cook MP David Kempton have formed a collective to advocate for the region. Mr James said the regions won the election for the LNP and Premier David Crisafulli. He said the premier was highly aware how important the regions were and the Far North could expect to see regular visits from him as well as all ministers. Earlier this month Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg was in the Far North looking firsthand at road issues and discussing the Kuranda Range road as well as highlighting the huge blow-out in the cost of the Cairns Marine Precinct. Mr James, a former mayor and long-time councillor, said he would be lifting his profile in Mulgrave by door knocking and meeting sporting and community groups,
as well as businesses. He said crime was the number one issue in his electorate and across the region. Mr James said Mulgrave was also the centre of the region’s growth and would require an uplift in infrastructure spending by both the government and the council. In his maiden speech to parliament he said the traditional centre of the electorate was Gordonvale, “a major distinguishing feature being its local character and historical significance”. “With urbanisation and the growth of Cairns southward, the town is undergoing significant change,” Mr James said. “The challenge for Gordonvale’s future is to ensure that this change does not destroy the town’s fabric in such a way that it gets absorbed into the ever-growing Cairns urban sprawl. “This is recognised by the current planning scheme, which supports the protection of this significant history by ensuring a strong sense of local identity is maintained through the retention and adaptive re-use of the buildings. CONTINUED PAGE 2
Member for Mulgrave Terry James (left), Member for Barron River Bree James and Member for Cook David Kempton in state parliament. Picture: Supplied
New year fireworks in the CBD l CAIRNS ESPLANADE A FREE concert and fireworks are planned for New Year’s Eve celebrations on the Cairns Esplanade. Live music and familyfriendly entertainment and fireworks will be held at three locations to ring in 2025. Cairns Regional Council is inviting the community to bring a blanket, a chair and your dancing shoes and enjoy a free concert on the western events lawn at the Cairns Esplanade from 5pm as part of the celebrations. The four-hour concert will feature the upbeat rhythms of DJ Chooky and DJ Bart, along with the melodic harmonies of the local Anais Campbell Trio. Family fireworks will be held at 9pm to give the expected sell-out crowd from the Cairns Taipans home game time to make their way from the Cairns Convention Centre to the Esplanade. A second fireworks display will be held at midnight to welcome in 2025. Additional fireworks will be held at 8.30pm at Walker Road Sports Precinct in Edmonton and the Palm Cove jetty. Mayor Amy Eden said New Year’s Eve was an opportunity for the community to come together, reflect on the past year, and look forward with optimism for the next 12 months.