s n r i a C
Local News
APRIL 26, 2024
100% LOCALLY OWNED & INDEPENDENT
cairnslocalnews.com.au
COV E R I N G M O S S M A N TO T H E C A S S OWA RY COAS T
l News
l Time Out
l Sport
Developer behind $12m ghetto upgrade
Students bring Willy Wonka show to stage
Northern Pride bounces back with big win
Page 5
Page 14
Page 22
Towers ‘still alive’
Council CEO quits
l CAIRNS ESPLANADE
| Nick Dalton
RSL’s $90m high-rise project still on books – with approvals l PORTSMITH | Nick Dalton LIKE the Anzac spirit, a dream to build high-rise residential towers and a new Cairns RSL Club on the city’s Esplanade is still alive. The two tower proposal – which dates back to 2007 – has been given a two-year ministerial extension, granted for development applications caught up during COVID-19. RSL subbranch president Nathan Shingles said “we are keeping it alive. It is not dead and buried … you never know.” The original proposal was 11 floors of holiday apartments, including two level 15 penthouses, basement and three levels of car parking, a ground floor club with a gaming lounge, restaurant, bars, TAB, offices and function rooms. It also had Cairns Regional Council approval. But Prime Constructions later advised the sub-branch in January, 2018 it was terminating negotiations for the RSL redevelopment. It was later axed by the-then board. It caused a lot of animosity and division among senior board members after $1 million was spent on the project. Mr Shingles said one of the key barriers was the land component which had to remain in RSL ownership. However, he
An artist’s impression of the two towers rising above the Cairns RSL Club on the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: CA Architects
said, any developer would want the land as part of the project – “but we can never let that happen”. Mr Shingles said the project would probably cost $90 million
Local family owned & operated with over 36 years experience!
today, double that of the original estimate. In a letter to the council seeking an extension (not necessary for another two years), he said the RSL had encoun-
tered “unexpected and substantial increases in building costs, which have significantly affected the financial viability of the project within the originally anticipated timeline”.
“Such economic fluctuations were not predicted during the initial planning and approval phases,” Mr Shingles said.
CONTINUED PAGE 3 ANZAC DAY – PAGES 2-3
CAIRNS Regional Council chief executive officer Mica Martin has quit less than two weeks after new Mayor Amy Eden was sworn in. Ms Martin resigned on Wednesday as councillors were called to a snap meeting at 4pm on Wednesday. It is understood the relationship between the mayor and CEO had been strained for sometime while Cr Eden was previously the division 5 representative. At Wednesday’s special council meeting, councillors resolved to delegate to the mayor the power to finalise all matters relating to the CEO’s contract which has ended by mutual agreement. Her contract had about another year to run and the salary ranges from $300,000-$400,000 a year. It is not known if she will be paid fully for the balance of her contract. Cr Eden thanked Ms Martin for her contribution to the council and the city of Cairns since she started on March 29, 2021. “During her time, Mica was instrumental in maintaining operational stability during some difficult times – none more so than the recent flooding,” she said. CONTINUED PAGE 4