Visitors lining up to enjoy the life of Riley
CONFERENCES have already been booked at the new Riley resort in Cairns.
Two international companies are among the first to bring their annual meetings to the Far North.
Crystalbrook Collection has revealed a major software conglomerate and a food and beverage giant will bring delegates for conferences hosted at the new Cairns Esplanade hotel this month.
Crystalbrook Collection chief executive Mark Davie, who helped cut the ribbon to officially open Riley yesterday, said they had been buoyed by the level of international interest in the property so soon after its opening.
“This is probably the more difficult time of the year – wet season time – but we’ve been exceeding our expectations, which is terrific news,” he said.
Riley’s distinctive tower hosted a New Year’s Eve party last night. Its rooftop bar Rocco provided one of the best views in the city for end-ofyear fireworks.
Mr Davie said the tower’s rooms, which opened up for guests this week, had a heavy tint, but admitted they were still slightly transparent from the exterior.
“There are privacy blinds inside, so for those people who want privacy inside, there are full blinds, and there are semishade blinds as well,” he said.
Riley, which has been built on the site of the former Rydges Tradeswind resort, is the first of three Crystalbrook Collection hotels to open in the city’s heart.
The other two properties, Bailey and Flynn, are both expected to be open later in 2019.
Mr Davie said the company’s owner, Syrian billionaire Ghassan Aboud, was expected to visit Cairns midyear to inspect all three hotels.
“We’re expecting him here in August, when we expect good weather and good conditions for him to invite his guests along to,” he said.
Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt, who spoke at the opening, said Mr Aboud’s vision for Cairns “needed to be respected.”
“Having the confidence to invest $600 million into a region doesn’t happen by accident,” he said. “It happens by due diligence and hard work.
“Clearly the opening of Riley hotel, followed by Bailey and Flynn, is a massive boost of confidence in our tourism industry. “It not only says Cairns is open for business, but it’s now setting the benchmark.” ORGANISATIONS experienced in leading citizen science activities have been invited to apply for grants of up to $100,000 to support Great Barrier Reef health projects. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation will this month open funding applications for the first round of community grants through the Reef Trust Partnership. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority recently identified the ongoing outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish and potential marine heatwaves as the biggest concerns for the Reef this summer. Applications for the first round will open on January 7 and close on January 30, with successful applicants announced in February.
Report potholes
RESIDENTS and motorists are being urged to report any potholes to Cairns Regional Council. “Spotted a pothole that’s popped up with all this rain?” asks the council on Facebook. “Let us know so we can repair it. You can report a pothole quickly and easily via the My Cairns app – download it now for free from the App Store or Google Play. https:// www.cairns.qld.gov.au”.
Park parking boost
THE upgrade of Mary Andrews Park car park at Mareeba is now finished. A council spokesman said the scope of works at the Mulligan Highway park included a full asphalt seal of the carpark and access. “New signs and wheelstops installed and steel bollards replaced existing timber posts,” he said. The park includes toilets, a barbecue and a covered seating area.