It's Cairns' famous 28 million dollar billboard

Here's the remaining memory of 9 years of Cairns Council arguing, at least 12 reports and procrastination. 

Bureaucratic bullshit and political pandering at it's best.  And let's not forget the cool $28,000,000 wasted on a 5 meter billboard on Wharf Street that we all now proudly own.

Thanks to Zach Bickhoff for the photo.

Public protest at "third-world" Cairns Hospital construction site

The state of the building site at the Cairns Base Hospital has alarmed concerned local who claim it resembles.

A public protect picket will be held this morning to highlight a number of serious safety concerns and sloppy work practices.

Janine Aitken says that you will only see ''jumps'' this old in third-world countries.

"Builders on the Base Hospital construction site are ignoring fundamental safety matters with inferior products being used."

"I saw a worker throwing building materials including large bits of wood and metals from the top yellow platform over the edge," Janine Aitken says.

"I also saw another worker leaning right over the edge to drill something with no harness.  I then observed the same guy do some welding without any welding screens put up."

Aitken says she also saw another worker propped up a ladder with no safety measures.

"He climbed on down, no harness, no three points of contact, no safety at all.  The fact is our ambo's are going to have to find a way to reach these clowns if they are injured and there is no safety exits.  It's a joke."

The Cairns Base Hospital redevelopment is a $500 million dollar project.

"It's being done on the cheap," Aitken says.   "If we don't stand up for this, we will spend the next 20 years band-aiding it because it wasn't done properly the first place.

The construction is being undertaken by Abigroup, one of Lend Lease companies operating in Australia.   They were selected in 2010 as the managing contractor to redevelop Cairns Base Hospital which involves the new clinical services building and the refurbishment of the existing Blocks A, B and C.

Abigroup’s Queensland manager Steve Abson said at the time of being awarded the contract that Abigroup was committed to maintaining Queensland Health’s service delivery to the Cairns community throughout the delivery of the project.”

"The project will require detailed planning and coordination due to significant space constraints and the sensitivity of working in a hospital precinct environment," Steve Abson said.

Now there is an urgent call for building inspectors to intervene on the construction site.

"This construction is third world style, with inferior jumps, materials, and safety is being ignored with  workers being bullied," Janine Aitken says.

Bryan Law tells court glad he disarmed $80m Australian Army helicopter

Cairns peace activist Bryan Law, who disabled an Australian Army Tiger attack helicopter with a blow from a garden mattock during the Talisman Sabre war games last year, has appeared in the Rockhampton Court.


Bryan Law is defending himself and he expects the outcome of the appearance will be a "hand-up committal" to stand trial in the District Court at some future date.

He is up on two Commonwealth charges of willful damage and threatening an aircraft.

His accomplice, Graeme Dunstan, was committed to trial on a charge of willful damage on 10th May.

Law did the damage in the spirit of the Isaiah biblical prophesy to "turn swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks."

He is unrepentant.

“I’m glad I did it, your Honour," he told Magistrate Cameron Press.  “I’m glad that for however brief a moment that infernal helicopter death machine couldn’t fly. Couldn’t be used as a weapon."

"In a time of depraved warfare in Afghanistan and of military slavery to the US empire, I’m glad I made this witness to the prophecy of Isaiah and the promise of our saviour Jesus Christ."

"We must disarm."

The matter was committed to trial that is expected to be set in the next six months.

Rowing, Guide Dogs and Endeavour Foundation, big winners in funding allocation

The latest funding round from the Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund, has seen some local organisations receive support for new projects.

Ruth's Women's Shelter in Cairns has received $4,900  to install a solar electricity system.  YMCA Marlin Coast has been awarded $5,000 for a facility upgrade.

AFL Cairns Women's League will get $3,700 for a computer, and the Cairns Community Kindergarten and Preschool  $6,370 to create a new nature area.

The Cairns Photographic Society receives $2,900 to purchase AV equipment.

However the big local winners are the Cairns Rowing Club, who will build a new shed and purchase equipment with a $28,000 grant.   The Cairns Endeavour Foundation has been awarded $32,000 to construct an activity area, and $32,000 will go to the Cairns Branch of Guide Dogs.

A total of 34 Cairns and Far North Queensland community groups have received funding from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund quarterly allocation of $500,000.  The fund uses taxes from Golden Casket lotteries, wagering, keno and gaming machines to pay out grants of up to $35,000 to community organisations.

There are four annual funding rounds, with closing dates of 28th February, 31st May, 31st August and 30th November.

Robin Gibb 1950 - 2012