On other matters

Re: CCTV in Cairns CBD. To reduce crime rate all cameras should be under the direct control of police not council workers. Police could then direct resources in a proactive rather than a reactive manner. yet again to a southern-based company (to the exclusion of locally-based practices) is disturbing and extremely disappointing to say the least.

Doubly disappointing is the fact that Cox Architecture is again the awardee, which in recent times has been handed several major commissions which in each case have not included invitations for local practices to tender.

These projects include the Salt House project, Reef Fleet Terminal, the present convention centre (all State Government) and the Cairns Performing Arts Centre (Cairns Regional Council).

With all of these projects and the current convention centre project, local firms, many of whom have an association with large acclaimed national companies who can assist depending on the scale of the project, should at least be given the opportunity to submit a fee proposal.

Or better still major projects like CPAC and the convention centre expansion should have been or should be the subject of an architectural competition.

For a small fee a limited number of practices are invited to submit a preliminary design with estimated cost and detailed fee proposal, which would result in a fairer assessment, and a better outcome for the city. Robert Cleland, Cairns City 1956: The first transatlantic telephone cable is put into service, from Oban, Scotland to Clarenville, Newfoundland. 1974: Scientists warn that continued use of aerosol sprays will cause ozone depletion. 1997: The British Thrust Supersonic car sets a new land speed record in Nevada of 714.1 mph (1149.2km/h). 2000: At the Sydney Olympics, Cathy Freeman (above) takes gold in the women’s 400m in front of an excited capacity crowd. 2005: US actor and comedian Don Adams, best known for his role as the bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in the television espionage spoof Get Smart, dies aged 82. 2018: A self-proclaimed Danish adventurer is investigated by Northern Territory authorities after he was filmed riding a live crocodile.