Cassowary Coast Regional Council

The Mundoo Airport is causing some comment in the community. Last year Johnstone Shire Council asked for expressions of interest from persons interested in putting a proposition regarding the running of the airport. A sub-committee of three councillors from the Cassowary Coast Regional Council will now assess alternatives. Only one expression of interest has been received and at this point all options remain available, including continuing to operate the airports in a similar but more profitable fashion.

During the election campaign and subsequently, operators at the airport raised concerns that the relatively inexpensive costs of operating out of the airport could rise. Others have questioned whether council is receiving all of the landing dues payable for use of Mundoo and Tully airports.

What is clear is that the losses from operating the airports should not continue. So, prima facie, the costs for operators will need to increase. Council, under the administrator, approved major capital expenditure for updated lighting at Mundoo and a return on this expenditure is necessary. The opportunity to capitalise on the privatisation of Cairns Airport is also obvious. One thing is certain, the CCRC airports are not for sale. What is not clear at this stage is what the final outcome will be. The primary aim is to act in the best interests of ratepayers, including the rate paying business operators using the airports and their facilities.

The drafts of the cases for and against the Multi-Function Centre, to be situated at the Tully High School site, are being prepared and finalised this week, and will be approved as being factually correct by council before being published in the local newspapers. A telephone poll of Cassowary Coast residents will follow, conducted by professionals, asking whether this project is a priority and at what cost to ratepayers should it proceed. Whilst most Tully residents are by now aware of the issues, Innisfail residents and councillors are not fully informed, and it is unreasonable therefore to expect them to pass judgment on the subject and contribute towards the costs, in relative ignorance. In the meantime the state government is being asked to increase its contribution significantly. The former Cardwell Shire was considering approval, but the financial position of the new regional council is such that approval, without this extra state government money and confirmation of existing grants, would not be responsible.

Last Sunday I attended the Coral Sea Battle commemoration ceremony at Cardwell and the Feast of the Three Saints celebrations at Silkwood.

The Coral Sea Battle ceremony was a very moving occasion and it was encouraging to me to see the large attendance, including unprecedented numbers of young people. Rather than glorifying war, celebrations like these importantly raise awareness of our heritage and the debt we owe to those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.

The Feast of the Three Saints, apparently the longest standing regional religious festival in Australia, also demonstrates and celebrates our region’s cultural diversity. Third generation Australians, speaking with broad Australian accents, proudly organised the annual procession of the Saints, in front of many hundreds of onlookers.

With our history, our cultural diversity and our unique environment, we are indeed a fortunate region.

Cr Bill Shannon
Mayor