Upgrade approved

CAIRNS Regional Council has endorsed the first stage of a

$2.1 million upgrade of Magazine and Arnold streets across the road from the Barron River Hotel in Stratford. The streets are a key connection between arterial roads the Captain Cook Hwy and Aeroglen Dr through an industrial area. The upgrade will be completed in two stages, beginning with Magazine St from Arnold St to Greenbank Rd.

Teacher’s hat in ring

A MUSIC teacher has announced she will run for Division 6 in the upcoming Cairns council election, on a platform of lobbying for better transport and road infrastructure for the area. Brinsmead resident Nicole Tobin, a teacher at Freshwater Christian College and St Joseph’s School at Parramatta Park, said the council division had many urgent needs, including a safe bikeway between Freshwater and Brinsmead, and a pedestrian crossing at the Brinsmead Glen end of Loridan Drive.

Council opportunities

EIGHT jobseekers will get the chance to start their careers with Tablelands Regional Council this year. The council has received funding to increase the region’s workforce and employ eight new trainees and apprentices.

“We’ve been fortunate to again receive funding to provide these opportunities in our workforce,” said Mayor Joe Paronella. “We’ll be offering 12-month traineeships in civil maintenance, community services and tourism, finance and knowledge and systems, horticulture, libraries, and a fouryear plumbing apprenticeship.”

Hip-hop act in town

SYDNEY-BASED hip-hop trio True Vibenation play Tanks Arts Centre tomorrow. Tickets cost $40/$35 (concession), and are available from Ticketlink.

Project on track

A $990,150 feasibility study to allow Daintree Renewable Energy Pty Ltd to take a fully renewable microgrid project to “shovel ready” status within 12 months is expected to be finalised in July. Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the first community update report showed the project was on track and on schedule.