Villa Wrongmarno

Now this one sticks more than a dirty dinner date with herpes.

The prominent Villa Romana has all but made it to the press over recent months. Any local that moves around the town will have known the lengthy delays in completing the Aplin / Esplanade footpath development.

This is due to the illegal and outrageous encroachment of Villa's new restaurant structure poking out onto a public walkway, just to accommodate two more tables, for this greedy and way too hungry business.

At Council's ordinary meeting (they are never ordinary) on 26th July, an application from the owners was tabled at Council, to close part of all of that section of Aplin Street. It would be hard to find a development more out of control in our town. Actually, that's not true.

That Council have agreed to advise the Department of Natural Resources and Water that it has no objection to the proposed permanent road closure of part of Aplin Street, subject to it being at no cost to Council. Isn't this outrageous?

This structure should be ripped down at the original town planning rules be followed.

They have stolen 53m2 of public land (road reserve) from the ratepayers at no cost whatsoever. Try moving your fence by 6.5 meters this weekend and see what your neighbour has to say.

Our weak and limp Council have subsequently delegated authority to the Mayor and CEO to negotiate and finalise "any and all matters associated with the application for permanent road closure."

Let's recap. A developer builds an illegal structure. It breaches several established consents and allowed boundaries. They apply for the road area to be closed to accommodate this. The Mayor is voted to endorse this, negotiate and oversee this request.

I wondered why KB hasn't been dining at Villa recently. Now we know.

983 hits on Thursday!

Following yesterday's publicity, traffic to and interest in CairnsBlog increased substantially.

We were getting around 1400 hits a week, but yesterday it peaked at nearly 1000 unique visitors viewing the site in just over 8 hours.

Thanks are due in part to Damon Guppy and the team at Cairns Post, home of the scantily-clad cover girl. Even Editor Mark dropped us a note to say hello and wish us well in our quest for the Holy Grail. However, he feels I should admit to being a self-confessed perv... more on that another time.

Another 60 people have put votes in for this week's online "Which Councillor I respect" poll. It seems that the trend is following the initial pattern, which is interesting. However Pezzutti has surpassed Cochrane, but Lindsay and Blake are neck in neck.

It's not scientific, but is starting to resemble a good sample of what locals think. The Councillors that are well behind in the stakes, maybe aren't disliked, maybe just not known at all. We'll publish the results on Monday morning. Remember that users can only vote once. I'm using software that won't allow multi-voting from a single IP address or the same computer.

If you have an idea for subsequent polls, please email it to me at CairnsBlog A free chocolate bar will be delivered to the chosen contributor. Now that's more than you got from your Council!

However, I need to sincerely pay due respects for our recent success. I need to offer my thanks to Mayor Kevin Byrne for his gracious endorsement of this "defamatory and offence" blog. Without him, there would be not a lot to print. Without his Council and it's legacy, we would be scratching our heads, hugging trees and singing around the campfires on Machans Beach. So it's Kevin we need to acknowledge. So thank you for making this all possible Kevin. I feel we already know each other so well. I feel I could pop over for a cup of sugar and have natter with Amanda about the merits of False Cape being made into a Gated Community. From the bottom of our heart, the team at CairnsBlog blow you a mighty big kiss. No tongues though, this is a kind of family show.

I will be popping into Woolies today to buy you a box of chocolates and a suitably card. I'll deliver it to Dennis or Garry or Robyn at your office. I hope you'll enjoy it over supper on the weekend with Amanda. You are a true inspiration for our work. Without you, we'd be nothing. You make our work, that much easier, and give it purpose and direction.

Keep up the good work KB.

ByrneWATCH is here!

As promised, we're introducing ByrneWATCH.

This will be a regular feature here on CairnsBlog where YOU can contribute your stories, experiences and interactions over the last few years with Big Kev, Kevin, KB, Yasser.

I'll be delighted to hear the tales you've been bottling up and always wanted to share so we can all have a giggle or be shocked.

Maybe it is appropriate for me to start the ball rolling... A good mate of mine was walking through town with his wife along Abbott Street three weeks ago. This was around 11 in the morning and they'd just enjoyed a coffee near City Place.

They arrived at the corner of Shields and Abbott Streets, and were about to cross the road. The pedestrian lights were already active. A number of Japanese visitors and other locals were walking across the road. They had the right of way as the green "walking icon" was on. At that time my witness allegedly sighted a large 4WD Land cruiser headed straight towards the pedestrians forcing the walkers to part and allow the vehicle to cross their path. And guess who was driving? You guessed it... allegedly it was good ol Mr Mayor!

Now I hear you say, 'oh, anyone could make that up'. However, this was relayed to me first hand-within 15 minutes of it occurring. I guess the reason I came onto the story was that the witness was so shocked by the actions of the driver and the endangerment it possessed to the pedestrians, he was then even more shocked to see who the driver was. I have little reason to doubt the witness' validity, as he's a long-time resident of Cairns and has been a well-known and respected resident over 45 years, but is now in happy retirement.

I've received a great deal of messages over the last week, but ask you to provide your tales, along with copies of any correspondence or photos, with your stories. I know this will be entertaining as much as it will be disturbing.

Let's play "Count the black man"

I was disturbed to read the comments from Rommel.

These observations ring all too true for me. I recall much discussion since the first tree was ripped out of Shitty Place 5 years ago, and many were saying around the town that Council wanted to "remove those Aboriginals from our town centre", among other places. I know Bynre had a list on his desk with the top five spots he wanted "eradicated".

I heard a contractor working on the 'redevelopment' of City Place, share with a few of us drinking one afternoon at PJ O'Briens, that the pavers they were laying were designed to "keep out those darkies." I remember hearing at the time that the rationale was that they could simply hose the place down, and it was to be an effective method to deter anyone to linger there.

I was incensed. A town square is an ancient, even tribal facility to bring it's people together, to congregate; to celebrate; for leaders to address it's people; to dance and sing; relax and enjoy. It's where the town crier would come to mount the soap box and furnish the ideals and news of the day and it's governors. A meeting place and a place of integral importance in the structure of a city. Around the world and through history, these are sacred spaces. But what is City Place, Cairns? It's an abyssal failure on all this measures. At close to $4.5 million, after several attempts under the Byrne administration, to redo it over and over again, look at what we have got.

I'd only been here for 3 years at that point, so reserved my judgement about what seemed like ethic discrimination. But subsequently learnt about the infamous busing out of indigenous Cairns residents to north of Cooktown by the first Cairns Council, also under Byrne. I thought this was urban legend, but no, it did happen. I was shocked and therefore knew that they were on a mission to cleanse this town, come hell or high water.

It wasn't long before discreet signs started to appear along northern parts of the Esplanade and some other locations around the city, highlighting the "Move On" powers of the local constabulary. There was a pattern evolving and the City Council was covertly employing a hostile environment for our native citizens.

By providing no shelter whatsoever in in Queensland's northernmost city, and removing all the grassy knolls and shady trees to relax on and around, Council are aggressively out to create an environment to discourage native residents to congregate in public spaces.

It's also to do with Council's need to create a 'proper perception to visitors'.

Rommel also believes the Cairns Police have had input into this decision. This is reasonably obvious with their lobbying for the archaic and draconian Move On laws. This is nothing more than ethnic cleansing of the lowest order. As a Kiwi, I find this type of governing abhorrent and repugnant. New Zealanders have a more recent native history but lead the word in title settlement, reconciliation, integration, shared curriculum, and respect for difference. They also operate within a true multi-cultural society. Australia does not. And Cairns Council is party to this disgusting betrayal of it's local ancestors and the true custodians of this land we now call Cairns.

The new "modern Cairns" is all being designed around the visitor, not the resident. And certainly not our current day ancestors of Aboriginal Australia. Shame on you Councillors that have allowed this climate of hatred and fear to permeate for our black citizens.

Respect and understanding for Maori New Zealanders is not one of lip service, like a simple Haka at a game of footy, or an "I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land" before a speech. It is now ingrained into the Kiwi psyche. Sure there are problems with Maori. But there are as many problems with the white fellas as well. However most New Zealander will happily and proudly call their nation Aotearoa, with dignity and respect, even if they don't know one native Kiwi by name.

Respect and understand of difference and history have made New Zealand a place to appreciate the diversity and talent that comes with acceptance and understanding. Cairns sometimes seems to be a modern day Bosnia with it's attitude towards the Haves and the Have Nots in our community. The systematic destroying of places and buildings they used to frequent and squat, was occurring regularly in 2002/03 around the city. No strategy was put in place nor accommodation created to replace or assist the nature of these unique people.

I hate to admit it Rommel , but I've played the Count the Black Man game a few times. They and their ancestors may have been here for 40,000 years, but this Council in 8 short years have decimated their legacy in such a violent way.

Maybe their behaviour at times is a direct result of how the polices of Cairns City Council ends up alienating them.

You're a very naughty boy

I'm a huge Monty Python fan.

I grew up on "Albatross, bloody bleedin albatross, bleedin flavour".. and "It's not dead, it's stunned." I guess may fav was, "He's not the Messiah, he's just a naughty boy"

Well, someone today told me I was. A naughty boy that is. It was done in jest and with much mirth as the events of the day unfolded as Cairns Blog was exposed to a wider audience through the magic of yet another Mayoral outburst. Media must be at a desperate low point when a simple blogger is the flavour of the day, in the paper, and on a number of different radio stations consecutively. Even good ol Auntie wanted a piece of me. Thanks for the early morning wake up call Kier! Not all of us are in bed, tucked under the dooner at 7:30pm.

Anyway, I'm a media tart from way back from the day I caught Jenny and Bob behind the bike sheds and I had to go tell the story to all and sundry. It was a hoot. I soon realised I needed to direct this new-found attention excess disorder, or AED, into something constructive. I schemed and played in the sandpit and before long developed a way to trip up the teacher and blame Julian for it.

Of course, any savvy player on the public stage, no matter if you're a footy player or a butt half-naked Indy model, knows that it's all a game. It's a game of attention, but a game nevertheless. It's mutually manipulative and one has to be both a prostitute and pimp to understand it.

After CairnsBlog received the wrath of our Oh Lordy Mayor, I knew I'd be exposed and scrutinised about the actions and rationale behind this blog. Good. That's all I wanted. Mayor Byrne is infamous, maybe even legendary, for his bullying and arrogant attitude, and believe he earns respect from this approach. He's amassed a plethora of incidents and run ins with 100's of local ratepayers and residents over his time in office. Just this afternoon, Alision who runs a worker's takeaway bar on the main drag, telephoned me to say she see's the Mayor's 4WD speeding through the city early in the morning "as if he owns this town". "He's goes through red light as it suits him you know," she said. "One day he'll bowl someone over."

Even happy developers who have got their way with approvals under this development-mad Council are finding his smarmy attitude a bit over the top. I know they think it's time for a change. I mean, there's only so much use out of a retired Russian Oil Spill expert in tropical Queensland.

I've chatted with numerous Council white collars in Spence Street, who are hoping for an overhaul and a clean out. I genuinely think they want to work in a more appreciative environment. One where their contribution to this city is respected, not only by the ratepayers, but by the senior management, and elected representatives. They're clearly not at present. I get fed tale after tale about the Mayor walking the hallways and expects people to bow over and crawl up to him. I learnt early in my working life that respect is something that you earn and have to keep on earning.

I hope to earn respect from my readers by presenting stories based on our local history and that other media can't or won't print. However, I will never be libelous, but their is a true noble duty in letting a wider audience know what happens that often only a select few see or hear. CairnsBlog is also not, and has not been to date "defamatory and offensive" to anyone. It is certainly asking questions and raising concerns from some of our 128,000 residents. Maybe that is our only crime. Maybe it's about time we had our say.

Byrne, as a public official over the last 8 years, will dearly know, there's a lot of dirt floating to the surface. Not a week goes by where there's not a story circulating that details his aggressive nature and abruptness towards locals. Remember his interview with Pat on ABC just a few weeks ago?

Do you want to continue to have a town leader like this? Do you?

So, maybe I'm a naughty boy by trying to hold to account this thing will foolishly call a Council, but it's God's work after all.

Amen.

Chaser does APEC

PMS didn't let us down

Ol' Captain Cook's Oprah-style makeover was revealed at breakfast on Wednesday, with the support of Minnie and Phil at Hot FM.

The team from Programme Maintenance Services did a huge job with help from Arnel Fencing, Dulux Paints and numerous other local suppliers, to give the good Captain a fresh coat of paint, probably the first in 20 years.

Good on ya lads. What great spirit, and for no other reason than to say we want to keep the old fella upright.

Thank god for PMS.

Our new (temporary) leaders

Following yesterday's first Local Transition Committee, we have learnt overnight that Crs Byrne, James from Cairns City Council, and Crs Berwick & Cox from Douglas will, along with Union rep, make up the committee. They opted to exclude a community representative. Amazing.

The vote was 5 to 2 in favour of Bynre chairing the committee.

However Berwick has been very critical of Byrne's wish to keep the meetings behind closed doors. "In the environment of transparency, this process should be open to the public. I'm disappointed," says Berwick.

And rightly so. Do we need yet another reason to throw out this Council? Why on earth should this committee be meeting in secret? This is outrageous.

As shocked as we should be by this announcement, we should not be surprised one bit. This is the way the Cairns City Council does business. This is the way that they have done business for years and years.

So we will be subjected to a controlled release of information and developments. I think we can rely on Crs Cox and Berwick to tell the real story over the next 200 days.

Nothing surprises me about this latest undemocratic move. They next meet on Thursday 27th September.

The only closed door we should welcome is with a certain mayor on the other side of a locked door. Alone.

Ralph, People, Picture, FHM, Cleo... move over.

I'm sorry, but what has the Cairns Post come to, or stooped to now?

I guess some percentage of the local male population (and some female) will have enjoyed yesterday's front page tabloid display. But not this blogger.

I can accept that Michelle may have some talent, even a story to tell, however in a survey today of 23 of my friends, of both genders, and various ages from 16yrs - 48ys, the consensus was clear: this was a demeaning and overtly sexual photograph Mr Editor.

I even telephoned The Post and asked two female staff at random. Both were "embarrassed and surprised" about the image appearing right across the front of 'their' paper.

"I don't know why they do that. But it is very cheap isn't it," said one.

What purpose did it achieve in furthering the journalistic credentials or the aims of your paper?

Without much doubt at all, you lower the standard of your product and the intelligence of your readers by continuing to publish such images.

I don't think a month goes by when the Post doesn't resort to the display of a scantly-clad female in the paper, which seems for the sole titillation and pleasure of some factory worker in the burbs with little respect for women.

Michele could have been interviewed about her role at Miss Indy, however the image was far from appropriate in a newspaper that reaches into thousands of family homes across the region.

Shame on you Cairns Post, we expect better of you.

Crazy China Caption Contest: Prize on offer!

Here's Mayor Kevin Byrne at the Xin Qiao Hotel, Hangzhou, China, last year, looking presidential, with with Vice Mayor Jin Shengshan and Dong Zude of Hangzhou Foreign Affairs Office.

We at CairnsBlog are looking for your captions... and to start the ball rolling, here's our suggestions...

1. "Hey chaps, I loved your last movie.. Jin and Dong's Really Excellent Adventure"
2. "Com'on Dong, no need to hide behind the couch, I don't really bite"
3. "That flower arrangement is amazing, I'll get Dennis onto it for the office"
4. "Hate to tell you boys, but beige is so last season"
5. "So, we have a reef and a rainforest, and it's all for sale. Also, the island's still have plenty of apartment potential if you'd like to do a deal"
6. "My office back in Cairns is similar to this, only bigger"
7. "My wife could pop over and look after your body corporate management for the Imperial Palace if you wish."
8. ....your turn.......

Women's underwear for Darwin mayor gets jail

Darwin's former lord mayor Peter Adamson, has been sentenced to two months in prison, because he used stolen council funds to buy a fridge, women's underwear and a Darth Vader voice distorter.

Every mayor needs a Voice Distorter, I know, I've witnessed many a Council meeting.

However, he walked free from court, maintaining he was innocent. Peter Adamson posted $2,000 bail (not from Council funds) ahead of an appeal.

His lawyer said he was clumsy and foolish. However the NT Magistrate lambasted the former mayor. "I don't think much of your defence, quite frankly. Had you pleaded guilty and had you shown some remorse you could have had the chance of a suspended imprisonment," said the Judge.

The mayor went on a spending spree with stolen council funds buying a $910 fridge, which turned up in an East Timorese thrift store about four months later; women's underwear, a the Star Wars voice distorter, and a punching bag.

I hope he won't take the underwear to prison.

Latte with Locco

You know there's something nice about a small town like ours when you're sitting on the Nard, in maximum perving position at 5:33 in the evening, and the king (sorry John) of local morning radio hops past - and I do mean hops - and stops for a cuppa and a chat!

Mike O'Loughlin, or Locco to his fans, is the shining morning voice at 4CA FM in Cairns. He's been doing the Breaky Show for 7 years now.

"Abso-bloody-lutely!" was his response when asked to leave MacKay for Cairns to join the team.
I have to declare that I like Locco. It's not difficult. Kier's my fav straight-funny man of radio on the FM dial, but when it comes to craziness and outrageous I'll-say-what-I-like radio, Locco gets the prize.

So last evening at the Coffee Club we debated politics, religion and sex, and then solved the third world's problems, the energy issues, and predicted the result of the Federal election, all in under 20 minutes. He swore me to secret not to mention his 22yr Latin lover and the African child he's been supporting for the last 3 years. Something about a tax dodge, he explained.

I've done radio with the team at 4CA a number of times, and although on air Locco is ever the card and clown, away from the microphone, he's a really great guy, and a true local yokel. He's now slowly rehabbing himself after a big knee operation, and is in great spirits about where he's at.

Last year he was joined by Lou Morrow, who has cleverly decided to temporally abandon the breakfast show at 4CA FM and have a baby. You can drop her best wishes here. Typical, why can't a guy score a 3 month holiday like this?

He tells me that 4CA rates top in Cairns in the 30yrs+ demographic.

Locco started in radio in 1972 with everything was black and white, jokes were rude, sexist and you called a spade a bloody shovel. He even used to play funny plastic things called 'records'. Nowadays it's all computers and clever digital things that make the clever bits of radio go round. Locco's also done 10 years in Melbourne radio, some in Sydney and Adelaide, plus a mix of TV with a kids cartoon show for 6 years.

He's certainly got around a lot for such a young fella.

So next time you see a refined slightly balding man hobbling along the Esplanade, say hi to our Locco.

NewsLtd has fun with APEC

Ditch State Government

Rosanne Barrett reports in the Courier Mail says that councils and shires have called for a review of all levels of government, labelling the current three-tier system "outmoded and dysfunctional".

Val Schier has previously suggested that this is the next obvious move following the State-wide council amalgamations. "I think we need to look at the level of governmnet we have and State Government should be questioned," she said.

It's long overdue to seriously consider the removal of the State level of government. It will bring government closer to the people, and save probably billions of taxpayer dollars.

The Headless Horseman says this is common sense from otherwise self-interested future ex-mayors and -councillors.

HH says "as the world gets smaller there is less need for the overabundance of councillors in Australia. The government of the future will be a federal government working with bigger and strong councils which may be seen as mini-states.

John Howard has inadvertently paved the way for the new federalism, no doubt spurred on by Kevin Rudd's strong stand on ending duplication, funding arguments and the blame game between the feds and the states. Queensland's local governments will be stronger because
(i) they represent more communities and greater populations,
(ii) planning will be improved because it will be done on a regional basis rather than on shortsighted local bases as at present,
(iii) they will have a more united front when arguing the toss with govts,
(iv) voters will be more serious about who they vote for and;
(v) areas with strong economies will help neighbouring areas that aren't as strong.

The scrapping of states may be a long way off, but it is a desirable development when the time comes. I am very excited about the future of Queensland with the amalgamations, Townsville, Bowen/Whitsunday, Cairns/Douglas, Tablelands and western Queensland have very exciting futures.

I hope they elect forward-thinking mayors and councillors because they will play a much bigger role in our state's future.

Queensland councils have voted for an independent review that the Federal Government will co-ordinate.

It will investigate duplication of services, regional planning and an equitable local tax system.

The motion was moved at last week's Local Government Association of Queensland conference and passed 157 to 125. You know, that was the conference that Jim Chapman and Kevin Byrne had big cuddles at.

Mike Berwick said that the review is overdue, and the moves over recent months were appalling way to bring in this change. "We must have this debate" he said.

However, Kevin Byrne said councils would "cut off their nose to spite their face" with an additional review. "sounds great, it sounds really warm and fuzzy but it's more like vengeance," he told the Courier Mail.

Labor has said it will hold a national referendum to seek the inclusion of councils in the Constitution.

John Winston Howard

Time's 50 Coolest Websites

Time Magazine has put together a list of what they think are the coolest websites.

NEWS AND INFORMATION
We'll stay away from the major news organizations; you probably already have those Websites bookmarked. Instead, here are some less obvious links, including an encyclopedia of how-to advice and a Hollywood hot sheet, a lie detector and a blog-sifter, all guaranteed to keep you in the know.

• Bloglines.com
• BBC.co.uk
• Ehow.com
• ET.tv.yahoo.com/newslink
• Factcheck.org
• Fedstats.gov
• Nationalgeographic.com/education
• News.google.com
• PBS.org/pov/borders/index_flash.html
• SEC.govSSA.gov/OACT/babynames

LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE
Each site listed here pertains to a particular area of interest — politics, science, health, music — but they all have two things in common: great content and great presentation.

• Apple.com/itunes/store/
• Cancerfacts.com
• Engadget.com Gizmodo.com
• FFFBI.com
• Freshdirect.com
• Kidshealth.org
• Metacritic.com
• Mojam.com
• Noggin.com
• Talkingpointsmemo.com
• Wordswithoutborders.org
• Yoox.com

COMMUNITIES
It's a small world, after all, and the Internet can make it seem even smaller. Each of these sites, in one way or another, and for one reason or another — practical, political, personal or professional — does a good job of connecting people.

• Craigslist.org
• Friendster.com
• Freecycle.org
• iPodlounge.com
• Meetup.com
• Sittercity.com
• Tolerance.org
• Triggerstreet.com

TOOLS AND ESSENTIALS
Here are some new, exciting and maybe better ways to do a lot of things you probably already do — search the Web, share digital photos, consult a thesaurus, find something on a map and decide what to cook for dinner.

• A9.com
• Freetranslation.com
• Froogle.com
• JiWire.com
• Local.google.com
• Maps.yahoo.com
• Mobissimo.com
• Photos.yahoo.com
• Refdesk.com
• ResearchBuzz.org/archives/001404.shtml
• Testmyspeed.com

JUST FOR FUN
If you're in the market for new ways to waste time, you're in luck: we found some marvelous examples of flash animation, a rather odd public art installation and one bad-ass movie site, among other worthwhile distractions.

• Accessproject.net
• Comedycentral.com
• eBay.com: Wedding Dress
• Newseum.org/newsmania
• Puzzlepirates.com
• Sonyclassics.com/badass
• There.com
• Trevorvanmeter.com/flyguy

Harry (or Harriet) the Huntsman

I'm busy this afternoon with my renovations..
and my friend Shayne who only popped down from Myola, near Kuranda, for a cuppa, came across this fella (or fellaess, it's hard to tell) in the downstairs loo.

"F**k, there's a bloody spider in the toilet" he belted out.

I don't think he was actually sitting on the loo in a compromising position at the time, but the kerfuffle didn't seem to bother Harry (I've decided to name him at this point in the story).

I quickly snapped this pic for your entertainment.

Such visitors like this are normal and this one is (unfortunately) a common Huntsman spider in northern Queensland. It likes living in houses and other warmer spots and catches a myriad of bugs, so is actually a good addition to the wallpaper.

I'm no fan of creepy crawlies, but do have a morbid fascination with all things wriggly. When you decide to live in the tropics, or sub-tropics as we are, then these are part of the landscape.

The Huntsman, when spread with it's enormous legs, can span the size of an outstretched adult hand, which makes them fast movers and good hunters, hence their name.

Tonight I don't intend to sleep in the downstairs loo.

Close up:

SHOCK: McBurger gets bigger and fatter and so are consumers' arses

It appears that McDonald's is, in a reversal of its recent healthy choices campaign, moving back to basics. Basics being a big artery hardening , waist expanding fast food experience that doesn't cost much, but doesn't leave you feeling full either.

Macca's new chief says: "We are a burger business. Our traditional menu - hamburger, cheeseburger, Big Mac, quarter-pounder, chicken sandwich - is front and centre of our plans. The emphasis has changed." The quote is from the new president of McDonald's UK - Steve Easterbrook. He admits that the healthier menus accounted for less than 10% of the company's sales.

According to the World Health Organisation:-

• Globally, there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, at least 300 million of them obese.


• Obesity and overweight pose a major risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms of cancer.


• The key causes are increased consumption of energy-dense foods high in saturated fats and sugars, and reduced physical activity.

Australia is now the 21st fattest country in the world with 67% of the population overweight. United States is in the top ten at 74% overweight. The list makes for interesting reading.

Governments all over the world, once realising that there is a link between cigarette consumption and health care costs have started to take drastic action to curb the number of places people can smoke and obtain tobacco products.

With the approval of new fast food outlets firmly in the hand of despots who decide zoning applications, how long is it before some level of government expresses an interest in the health of the people they are supposed to serve?

Maybe only when the cost of health exceeds the cost of inaction.

from Richard Webb

Fond memories of Bodega

Reading Ajax's article yesterday bought me back to my early 20's when I was living in Wellington.

I moved from my home town of Christchurch to Wellington in 1980 - a vibrant capital metropolis, buzzing with activity all day and night.

Following Fran Wilde and Mark Blumsky's reign as Mayor, the town shrugged off the "Windy Wellington" label, officialy rebranded as Absolutely Positively Wellington, and came of age. The Council and mayoralty was liberal-minded, accessible, cosmopolitan, alternative, and fun and the town evolved as one of the most stunning coastal cities in the world during the 90's. They even adopted a Social Stragey, to focus on the development and success of both individuals and the collective population. Imagine that happening here?

Moving to Welly was something of a huge adventure. I'd left home and started as publications manager and general editor at the Scout Association. This town was my kiwifruit (could have said oyster, but it's not kiwi enough, or even pavlova, but that would just be silly).

Welly has outdoor cafes, bohemian alleys with alternative shops, a genuine relaxed accepting lifestyle. The famous Cuba Street, with a remarkable collection of pioneer cottages and houses retained from the 1840's, was the hub of all this.

Affectionately we called her "Wellywood", following several notable movies and television that were created there. It was also the home of Peter Jackson's sprawling Mirimar studios, that hugged a small community village near the coast in the burbs. Peter was more revered than our Prime Minister during the Lord of the Rings years. Everyone seemed to be touched or connected with the project. They were the most most successful films of all time, and it all happened in our neighbourhood. We were all so very chuffed, even though most of us were simply observers, we chatted with and met Elijah or Ian around town, and in the bars during the 2 years they lived in our place.

The one I remember most fondly was Bar Bodega on Cuba Street. Bodega was one of the few stages open almost exclusively to original New Zealand Bands and has played a vital role in nurturing highly original and unusual music scene in New Zealand. Virtually every New Zealand Band has played here in the 1990s, very often in front of a very crowded audience. Local Wellington bands had regular spots in Bar Bodega: The Gardening Angels, Letterbox Lambs, Breakfast of Champion, and Let's Planet, to name a few. Regular poetry nights, which included our underground poets movement, were popular during the mid to late 1990s.

Regular appearances by Chris Knox, Martin Phillipps and The Chills, Jean-Paul Sartre Experience, David Kilgour, The Renderers ensured a wide and loyal followship (is that a word?!) of this iconic bar.

My mind harps back to this and I search for comparisons in my adopted town of Cairns, and I see such a divorce of all things cultural. I wonder if we can rebuild and foster this again. Because they say a house is not a home without a cat (or dog no doubt). I think a city is not a town without an arts and cultural life.

Great cities are not just high-rise apartments. I fear that new city dwellers who pay around $400K + for their inner-city pad, will demand to control noise and fun that a city is all about. Don't say we didn't warn you.

The community owned Wellington. They still do. They love it's heritage, it people and it's culture. And we all lived alongside each other respecting the wonder that each element bought to our home.

Oh, the memories.

Time to face the music

Today we welcome Ajax, who joins CairnsBlog.net's stable of contributors.

Gavin King’s piece in Saturday’s ‘the king’ column in the Cairns Post [Sept 1], pertaining to the lack of quality entertainment and culture in Cairns, hit the nail squarely on the head.
The recent demise of some significant establishments, most notably Johno’s Blue Bar, has sparked concern for the live music scene in Cairns, which has been deteriorating over a number of years, and for the welfare of local musicians.

Our supposed showpiece event, Festival Cairns, is little more than mutton dressed up as lamb. Let’s face it, most of the events on offer, save the parade and the fireworks, would be happening irrespective of the FC banner. The bulk of the program comprises independently funded and run events conveniently deposited under the festival umbrella.

Concern for the live music scene in general should not be confined to disenchanted or affected musicians but rather the community at large since everyone in the Far North relies on the tourism industry to some degree.

With limited enriching and unique nightlife entertainment in Cairns, tourists expecting a quality experience are not likely to return a second time, thus affecting the whole tourism industry in our region.

Aspiring, developing and professional musicians alike are likely to continue to leave in droves, further eroding the cultural development of this once lively music-rich centre.

The rapid loss of venues and opportunities for musical expression represents a serious narrowing of the tourism market and narrowing of the cultural development of this region.

The issues impacting on the live music industry in this region are varied and complex. Different people have different views about the impact of the introduction of no-smoking laws; licensing laws and costs; and the impact of poker machines. This complexity of views seems to have prevented adequate action in the past.

The proliferation of residential tower blocks in the city will assuredly exacerbate the situation in months and years to come. Residents and tenants of these units will not want live music “polluting” their ideal homes. Designating a large area of the CBD — say from the Esplanade to Sheridan St — as an entertainment precinct (as has happened in Brisbane with Fortitude Valley) might be worth considering; otherwise live music in the city could die out all together.

In any event, it’s time to act — and to act fast. A regional industry forum might be a good start.

State government funding should perhaps be made available to extend live entertainment performances in the Cairns CBD to 7 evenings a week / 52 weeks a year.

At the moment, entertainment is limited to weekend nights, financed by the Cairns City Council, and then sometimes of dubious quality.

The entertainment on offer should be culturally relevant– e.g. Aboriginal and Islander troupes, and bands whose music reflects in some way the history and geography of the region and Australia in general.

The level of musicianship on display should reflect the generally high standard of musicianship prevalent in Cairns.

Cairns is a major, year-round tourist destination. Hordes of bored tourists can currently be seen wandering around the city like wildebeest, looking for entertainment. Beyond the shops and the nightclubs, there’s precious little for them to do of an evening, especially the more budget-conscious travellers.

At the moment, most of the entertainment on offer is ‘yoof’ orientated and decidedly tacky — ‘pub crawl’ busses, tit & bum nightclubs, and strip joints.

Quality live entertainment seven nights a week in the City Place and Lagoon-side would create excitement, generate goodwill and generally enhance visitor enjoyment and help to promote return visits. It would also provide much-needed employment for local musicians.

Monday 3rd Sept, Pacific International Hotel, Cairns

Johnny Howard is giving you the chance to have your say about Kevin Byrne sleeping with Mike Berwick.... aaawww, the thought. I wonder who would be the dominant one?

On Monday, the Federal Government is running an all-day forum to discuss the forged Council mergers in Cairns and Douglas. This review is undertaken under the auspicsis of the Electoral Amendment Bill 2007. The Finance & Public Administration Committee will report back to the Government on Tuesday, with recomendations to run local referendums across the State.

This will be held at the Pacific International, cnr Esplanade & Spence Streets. It comences at 9am this Monday.

At 2pm, anyone will be allowed to air their views to the meeting.

There will be speakers from the Australian Electoral Commission, Douglas Shire and also the Local Govt Association.

Cairns City Council will not be officially represented at this meeting because they don't believe in democracy and people being involved in decisions that govern their local authority.

Cairns reps on Local Transition Committee

Cairns City Council have put forward Councillors Kevin Byrne and Terry James, as the representations for the Local Transition Committee.

The vote was moved by Cr Deirdre Ford and seconded by Cr Kathy Plath. Cr Paul Gregory was also nominated as a "reserve". CairnsBlog.net was informed that there was no discussion on this prior to the vote.

Oh, democracy, Stalin would be proud of you.

Chatting with Jim

I chatted today with Atherton Mayor Jim Chapman, who has worked tirelessly for his community for many years – serving on Council since the late 1980’s.

Jim has this week just returned from the Local Govt meeting on the Gold Coast. Most Mayors across Queensland have just gathered, with the hot topic of forced merges on the table.

The Cairns Post reported a tip off from an insider at the meeting that Cairns Mayor Byrne got into an abusive rant against Jim Chapman at the event on Wednesday afternoon. Now those that know Jim, will be stunned that he was so rilled by Mayor Bryne's outburst directed at him, that he responded the way he did, and also released a statement recounting the events.

"I respect his views, but he obviously doesn't respect mine," said Byrne of his tirade with the Atherton Mayor.

"Well, I want to say, I didn't go and 'storm off to the toilet'," Jim Chapman told CairnsBlog.net "I went to wash my hands!," he laughed. "He really doesn't understand our community at all, or how small communities work together."

So here we have it again, and on the record, the mayor of Cairns reported in our regional daily newspaper, with the adjectives of "arrogance" and "bombastic" describing him.

I know this isn't news. Our online poll last week rated this personality trait as Council's biggest problem.

Douglas Shire Mayor, Mike Berwick supported Chapman and said differences should be respected. He said the way in which the mergers have occured has created mistrust and anger in the community.

A long, long list is now appearing, of instances like this over the last few years. From community meetings, luncheons, letters and emails sent, bullying and threats of legal action to all and sundry. No-one expects this behaviour from our highest elected official. No one should put up with it either.

In keeping with our mantra and promise of communicating to the local population about issues concerning our local government and the overwhelming groundswell of support for a change, we at CairnsBlog.net will continue to bring you ByrneWatch. We also need to acknowledge those around our town, including Council staff, Councillors and various senior business managers for supporting us in this noble cause.

And for the record... Jim Chapman was returned to Council in the March 2004 election for his fifth term in office, and was first elected to the position of Chairman in April, 1988.

But while he’s contributed to many achievements of the council in that time, he told ABC Far North there’s one big project that he would like to get going before he retires next year. Lake Tinaroo was once the centre of the Tablelands – attracting almost a million people annually. However in recent times, the lake has lost is lustre – and is in desperate need of restoration.

DID YOU KNOW?

Atherton is 752 m above sea level, and has a local population of 5,800. The town was named after one of its founders, John Atherton, and it became a town in February 1886. Atherton is sited on the side of an extinct volcano it is surrounded by several small volcanic hills known as the Seven Sisters.

About 200 emails a day

I get a lot of emails. Most days it's around 200.

I RSS feed most of the regular web, news and blog sites that I like to read. This allows control and management to digest such a wealth of info and sort the fodder out from the trash.

Spam accounts for about 15 - 25%, however I use AVG, Bigpond and Google filtering engines, and now only get a handful of emails to increase the size of my penis and send my credit card details to the South African Save My Dying Mother Co-Op.

I used to also get a truck load of files that do the rounds, usually via office email lists that you get added to every generation of circulation, howevere, with the video file resource centre that is You Tube, this has ceased (YouTube & I have a late night relationship, whereby I pour a drink, slip into something comfortable, put some Enya on, turn the lights down low.. and ..well you might guess the rest.)

So today Amanda sent me a real treat. It was some pics of the Millau Viaduct Bridge (le Viaduc de Millau), a large road-bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn in southern France.

It is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with the mast's summit at 343 metres — taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 38m shorter than the Empire State Building. The viaduct is part of the road from Paris to Béziers.

Seven European countries helped in the 3 year construction, and at $635 million AUD, it was opened in December 2004.

Here's a large PowerPoint file at 2MB, however, well worth the show.
FILE: HighestBridge.pps

Lowy: Climate more of a threat than terrorism

The Lowy Institute for International Policy today released the results of its 3rd annual poll surveying public opinion on Australian foreign policy and global affairs.

This is probably the most comprehensive poll on foreign policy.
It focuses public opinion on:-

• insights on relations with the US,
• international trade
• military involvement in the Middle East

Some of the results show the increasing importance of climate change and what actions we should take.


DOWNLOAD Full Report
Australia and the world: public opinion and foreign policy (2.4 MB PDF)


Relationship with the United States

• 60% of Australians had a favourable opinion of the US
• 76% had a favourable opinion of Americans

NB: Between the first Lowy Institute Poll in 2005 and the third in June 2007, the
number of Australians regarding the ANZUS alliance as ‘very important’ for Australia’s
security fell from 45% to 36%.

President George W. Bush caused 69% to have an unfavourable opinion of the United States, with ‘US foreign policies’ causing 63% to hold an unfavourable opinion.

When rating their feelings towards 15 countries on a ‘thermometer’ scale of 1° 100°, respondents ranked:-

• US at a mean of 60°, equally with Vietnam
• New Zealand 81°
• Great Britain 75°
• Singapore 64°
• Japan 63°

Climate change
Of all external threats to Australians, climate change causes the most concern, with 55%
‘very worried’ about it.

• Climate change ranks higher than the threats of ‘unfriendly
  countries developing nuclear weapons’ (50% ‘very worried’ about it)
• ‘Islamic fundamentalism’ (39%)
• ‘international terrorism’ (38%)

As a foreign policy goal, ‘tackling climate change’ ranked equal highest in importance for those surveyed (75% thinking it a ‘very important’ goal) together with ‘protecting the jobs of Australian workers’, combating international terrorism’ (65%)

Asked how convinced they were about certain methods of reducing carbon emissions, 65% responded that ‘renewable energy like wind, solar and geothermal’ was very convincing, and favoured far above other methods proposed, including ‘nuclear energy’ (19% very convinced) clean coal where emissions are stored underground’ (15%).

Iraq and Afghanistan
The majority of respondents thought that Australia should not ‘continue to be involved militarily in Iraq’ (57%).

Equal proportions (46%) felt that Australia should continue in Afghanistan.

The rights of citizens to Australia’s protection 81% of survey respondents felt that the government should assist Australians caught up in dangerous events in another country, with a very strong majority (75%) agreeing this was the case even if they were also citizens of that other country.

Migrant worker schemes
The Poll showed that Australians are receptive to the idea of allowing unskilled migrant
workers into Australia for limited periods.

A strong majority of respondents (around 66%) agreed with positive statements about temporary migrant worker schemes such as ‘good because they fill a gap in the demand for seasonal workers’.

Significantly fewer agreed with negative statements about such schemes, such as that they ‘…make illegal immigration easier’ or ‘…take jobs from Australians’.

NB: The Lowy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan think tank which researches international political, strategic and economic issues from an Australian perspective. 1003 interviews were conducted between 21 May and 2 June 2007.

Lunch at Lowy

• Dr Ben Saul The law on terror - MP3 (20MB)
• Amos Brandeis Bridge for peace - MP3 (18MB)
• Kevin Rudd Future Challenges in Foreign Policy - MP3 (16MB)
• Allan Gyngell Design faults: the Asia Pacific’s regional architecture - MP3 (19MB)
• Peter Garrett Hands in the ruck: Australia's role in global climate change - MP3 (18MB)

1.2 million views, what a beauty queen!

Lauren Upton, Miss Teen South Carolina, giving the most incomprehensible answer to the question: "Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can’t locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?”

Her response is priceless.



HAT TIP: Kiwiblog

Robert Pyne more of a councillor than most

Robert Pyne, son of Tom Pyne, who was Mayor of Cairns from 1995-2000, is acting like he's already a local Councillor, who does he think he is?

Robert's standing (in his wheelchair) for Division 3 (or whatever it will be called after the State Govt redraws the wiggly lines next month). He's part of the Cairns 1st team.

Today he emailed out his Council Capers newsletter to his supporters list of 700! And what a brill broadsheet it is, better than any councillor is doing presently. If I could afford to live in Forest Gardens, he'd have my vote.

Pop over to Amazon Close and have a cuppa with him, and experience his passion for change, action and giving locals a real voice.. oh, and also his rather wry wit!

He's a really enjoyable personality and someone that will listen and help you out in office. Robert has real passion and commitment to his local community. You'd be hard pressed to find someone more committed to the cause and reasons why we need a strong local government. His dad would be proud of him.

DOWNLOAD PDF:
Rob Pyne Sept_Council_Capers.pdf

CONTACT
Robert's very easy to get in touch with, just don't tell his wife. Here's his Division website and his Cairns 1st website. You can also email him.