General News
15 March, 2024
Seven contenders for coveted role in Cairns
Seven contenders for coveted role in Cairns
John Kelly (Kel)
COMMON Sense Party leader and mayoral candidate John Kelly (Kel) wants to raise the wall of Copperlode Dam by three to four metres to help prevent serious flooding like that of December last year.
“Starting at the mouth of the Barron River create levee banks 1m high on both sides, install four large pipes with flaps on and two huge pumps, called floodlifters, to rapidly move the water out to sea,” he said.
“A big pumphouse would be necessary that can be run 24 hours a day with necessary with staff on hand.”
Regarding the housing crisis, he would build a hostel as big as a Bunnings shed, and have somewhere where homeless boys and girls could be housed and fed.
“I would go to the federal government and build 200 two-bedroom units fully furnished and charge $200 a week per person to live there.
“I have identified a property at Mt Surprise in the Cairns hinterland which the Cairns Regional Council could acquire with a humanitarian grant and establish a youth and unemployed training station that is presently available.
“It is far enough away to be fairly safe from hard drugs, and could turn aimless young people into valuable and capable people able to contribute to the general wellbeing of the entire region.
“It has the space and capability for training machinery operators, stockmen and women, and creates a place where further education could be made available in a TAFE-like campus and carbon capture taught as an art in the vast Cairns hinterland.
“The only reason young people commit crimes is boredom. My policies will give them meaningful and productive time learning life skills, plenty of tucker so they will never be hungry, and I will look to have experienced older people to pass on their skills to our young and presently bored and mischievous youngsters.”
Warren Vetters (Binda)
INDEPENDENT Warren Vetters (Binda), who is a country music entertainer, is keen to see the council focus on the forgotten suburbs.
“There are suburbs that have been forgotten and a lack of support for division representatives that want to deliver better infrastructure and outcomes to support small businesses and tourism in their areas,” he said.
“We have a unique opportunity to implement change for an even greater Cairns and it will come down to the leadership in which is delivered.
“It is only you the people who are the true power of change.
“Throughout my candidacy I have met and appreciated all the good-hearted residents of Cairns, and totally hear your concerns. I truly hope whoever is successful that they listen to you and deliver the best results for your communities.
“There are so many opportunities to support small businesses and tourism throughout Cairns and sporting events that can be promoted and supported better.
“Tourism is the bloodline of our economy and should be focused on greatly.
“There is much needed support and systems needing to be implemented to prepare for further environmental events as global warming is the driver of these outcomes.
“We need to support cleaner energy and pathways to lowering emissions.
“I love you Cairns. You have been good to me, giving me a place to call home and safe place to raise my family.
“Families matter as they are our future and the decisions we make today impact how they live in the future. I believe in you all and I am confident in the future of Cairns.
“I would like to thank the electoral commission for their support throughout this election, including the staff.
“I would like to wish all division and mayoral candidates the best in their efforts over their election.
“Also to recognise Cairn Regional Council for their ongoing commitment to Cairns.”
Amy Eden
A LOVE of Cairns and a belief that the city’s best days are yet to come are the motivation for Team Eden leader and mayoral candidate Amy Eden running for the top job. “A Team Eden-led Cairns Regional Council will build its foundation on three key values: transparency, accountability and engagement. These are the values I live by, and they represent what should be expected of a council that puts its people first,” she said.
“Our policies reflect these values. We will focus on building a more open and collaborative culture – stepping away from the secrecy and defensiveness of the past 12 years – supported by initiatives that make it easier to engage with, and do business with council.
“We’ll review council processes, ignoring the ‘that’s how it’s always been done’ argument in favour of continuous improvement and overhauling outdated practices that hinder innovation.
“We’ll combat the rising cost of living through year-round free green waste disposal, $2 summer swims, and overhauling household water costs, and we’ll support our young people to stay and raise their families in Cairns through rates relief for first homebuyers.
“We’re excited to strengthen collaboration with our business community to foster new opportunities such as late-night trading that helps to activate our CBD as a more inviting and safer destination for residents and visitors.
“Most importantly, we’ll ask you what you want from your council. We are committed to providing genuine representation for our community, based on meaningful communication that feeds informed and transparent decision-making.
“Like many in our community, I’m raising a family. I’m working to build a secure future for my children, and I have a vested interest in the future of Cairns.
“I’ll roll up my sleeves and work tirelessly to make sure Cairns is a great place, not just for us, but also for our next generations.
“There is so much I, and Team Eden, believe Cairns can achieve with a supportive council that empowers and enables its community to thrive.”
Leah Potter
INDEPENDENT Cairns mayoral candidate Leah Potter is keen to activate entertainment precincts in Cairns.
“I am the founder of the Sunset Soup Kitchen, also a comedian and a business owner here in Cairns,” she said.
“I’ve been performing at Elixir Music House for the past three years and I recently bought a cocktail bar here.
“I’m running for mayor just to bring some issues to the table around activation of entertainment precincts and the flow-on effects this has to the local economy, employment and tourism.
“Outside of comedy, I have worked tirelessly on social issues at ground level every night for six years to build the soup kitchen with no government assistance.
“I was selected as finalist for Australian humanitarian of the year for my efforts in addressing homelessness and poverty.
“I studied media law and journalism in Brisbane and I worked as a chef in Port Douglas. I have a proven track record of achieving spectacular results for the community with very little money and with no government assistance and no corporate sponsorship.
“I have rallied together teams that addressed major social issues the government was not able to solve.
“One example of this was the way we worked with the community and the mud army immediately after the floods before any government mob were able to.
“We had 1000 hot meals out to residents and volunteers within hours of the clean-up starting.
“On election day please put 1 in my box and then number every other box so that your vote counts.
“I don’t mind coming last with zero votes. I’m gonna put that on all my comedy posters for the next year: ‘Come see the loser of the mayor campaign’.
“Hopefully people will find me somewhat amusing.”
Denis Walls
COMMUNITY First leader and mayoral candidate Denis Walls is determined that Cairns remains a clean, green linear city with magnificent World Heritage areas on either side.
“I’ve lived in Cairns for over 33 years, and I’ve seen many changes in that time, but one constant has been the public’s desire to keep our identity as a clean, green linear city with magnificent World Heritage areas on either side,” he said.
“Cairns is now at a turning point. A growing population, a housing crisis, flooding – which has devastated so many in the northern suburbs – have led to many serious questions about our future.
“Clearly, there is a need for a new direction and style of leadership which is collective and community engaging, not secretive and controlling from the top down.
“My definition of leadership is the ability to imagine a future that is distinct from the present, then help lead Cairns in a direction where it can prosper.
“Leadership should be an exercise in vision as well as basic practicalities. As Cairns grows, we need broad thinking to address our many difficult issues through a holistic urban development and transport strategy rather than the fragmented approach that exists at present.
“In this campaign I have addressed complex issues like CBD revitalisation, affordable housing, flood-resilient planning, effective public transport, and enhancement and protection of our trees and green spaces for recreation and wildlife.
“For each of these difficult problems, I have put forward tangible solutions. I am critical of the council decision to approve the half billion-dollar stage 1 Mulgrave water project shortly before this election – without a proper community conversation about alternatives – when ratepayers will inherit the massive debt.
“Regarding youth crime, a way forward on this complex issue would be to listen to those doing the work on the ground, facilitate coordination, ensure agencies are ‘joined up’ and not competing for funds but working together. Long term safety solutions must ultimately lie in our own community to strengthen families and our own service system alongside increasing housing supply. Support for victims is paramount but we know that locking kids up doesn’t work.”
Paul Taylor
CAIRNS mayoral candidate Paul Taylor is “proud to be an independent candidate”.
“I have a strong history of leadership, particularly leading large teams and high-level committees in high-stake circumstances,” he said.
“I have spent over 45 years in the Queensland Police Service, some of those as deputy police commissioner, before settling with my beautiful partner and cheeky dog in our slice of Far North paradise.
“I am running for mayor to encourage positive change in the community. I am here to return Cairns to a vibrant, thriving, and exciting regional city, something that can only be achieved after we address the elephant in the room: crime.
“A Taylor-led Cairns council is committed to increasing community safety, lobbying the state and federal governments to do more with anti-crime legislation.
“It is not the time to be gentle, it is time to crack down on making you feel safe on the street and in your own home.
“With an increase in community safety, developers and local businesses will be even more inclined to invest in Cairns, increasing the local economy and creating a progressive and evolving city.
“My council will invest wisely. We cannot allow inherited debt to hang over our heads. Despite this, I am not planning to raise rates to fill this hole. I will take a fine-tooth comb to the budget, spend and investment from the previous council, knowing there is opportunity to save or to compromise.
“I am invested in the recovery of Cairns after the devastating weather events of the past few months.
“Cairns will again thrive with infrastructure, tourism, and opportunity through improved housing, access, and emergency services under my council.
“It is my intention and responsibility to listen to you, work strategically with the elected councillors and improve community safety and vibrancy in Cairns to ensure the future is bright for us and the next generation of Far North Queenslanders.”
Terry James
SUSTAINABLE growth while promoting, protecting, and enhancing the iconic natural environment, now and for future generations, is one of the goals of Unity Team leader Mayor Terry James.
“Cairns is a popular place to live, work and play and our unique position as the international gateway to two of the world’s most precious natural wonders – the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest – means we must ensure that growth is sustainable, appropriately located, resilient to natural hazards and climate challenges,” he said.
“To this end, your current Unity-led council is currently working on a multi-year project Towards 2050: Shaping Cairns Growth Strategy, which is being informed by extensive community and stakeholder input at each phase, as well as supporting technical studies, which involve protecting our rural and natural landscapes to ensure development does not continue to expand into these valuable areas, maintaining our lifestyle, protecting places of cultural heritage significance, ensuring future growth is risk responsive and responding and adapting to extreme weather events, climate change and encouraging development that is suitable and resilient to our tropical climate.”
Cr James said he would lead a small business-friendly council to bolster the vital role small business played in contributing towards the Cairns economy and continue small business’ 88 per cent reinvestment in Cairns.
“A Unity-led council will also promote growth and ensure our community and youth achieve the best in education, career, and business opportunities through a multi-industry approach,” he said.
“Following the flooding disaster Unity will focus on building back better by raising the old timber Queenslanders to achieve the ‘acceptable Q100 flood level’ plus upgrade existing low-set masonry homes to make them more resilient to flooding.
“Cairns Regional Council, together with the 76 other councils in the state, came up with a nine-point plan to address juvenile crime in Queensland.
“If need be, I will advocate via the Local Government Association of Queensland for all councils to send a delegation to Brisbane to meet the government, demanding immediate action to urgently address these pressing law and order issues before the next state election.”
