PLAN IN PLACE

ACTING Mayor Terry James says planning for the Courthouse Hotel’s future is well underway with maintenance work due to begin to fix leaks in the roof and maintain heritage values. “It wasn’t something that was on the horizon. It was a strategic purchase that came out of the blue,” he said. “We’ve done good work on the Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Munro Martin Parklands, Tobruk Pool, Lake St and the School of Arts. “This one will need even extra planning. We’re not going to get it wrong.” Cr James said it was not a simple matter of walking into a heritage-listed building and opening a pub “just to make a few bucks”. “Anything is possible and it takes careful planning. That’s what we’re in the middle of doing at the moment,” he said.