Mayor quits board role
Manning out of Advance Cairns
MAYOR Bob Manning has stepped down from the Advance Cairns board of directors with no plan to find a Cairns Regional Council replacement.
Cr Manning said there was no animosity between the two organisations and the decision was related to time management.
“There are only 24 hours in a day and I can only fit so much in,” he said.
“I’m not on the board of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, I’m not on the board of the chamber of commerce, I’m not on the board of the airport or the seaport.
“These organisations have all got specialised tasks.
“My job is to make sure we’re tying them all together.”
Advance Cairns chairman Trent Twomey said Cr Manning wrote to him about a month ago, the week before the duo led a trade delegation to Singapore to investigate ex- port opportunities. The council remains a paid-up “platinum” member of the organisation, giving it the right to have a director on the board.
Another councillor or council representative could be parachuted into the empty seat as a matter of course, but that option has not been taken.
“He said he is extremely supportive of Advance Cairns, just like TTNQ, and council will continue its funding agreement with Advance Cairns just as it does with TTNQ,” Mr Twomey said.
“The council doesn’t have a board position with TTNQ – it has a relationship exercised through a funding agreement.
“This was just making sure it was consistent between the two peak bodies.”
Mr Twomey said he paid tribute at Advance Cairns’ annual general meeting this week to both Cr Manning and fellow departing director Stewart Smith, who was chairman of the organisation’s membership and events committee.
He said the economic development organisation was in sound financial shape, with its highest income and membership revenue in five years.
“It’s a show of confidence from Advance Cairns members that they are happy with our efforts and the direction we’re going,” Mr Twomey said.