John MacKenzie chats with Division 9 Councillor Brett Olds about the deadline to meet lease conditions for Double Island.

Leaseholder Benny Wu was given until March 31 2023 by the Queensland Depatment of Resources to have the resort open and to provide day-use facilities for public visitors.

Many are calling for the state goverment to strip Mr. Wu of the lease, considering that the conditions of the contract have not yet been met, even after considerable time was provided.

IMAGE: Sheba_Also 43,000 photos, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Cairns_Palm_Cove_Double_Island-1_%2823535535935%29.jpg

John MacKenzie chats with Craig Crawford, ALP State Member for Barron River, about the owner of Double Island at Palm Cove, and the involved responsibilities as per the lease conditions. 

One of the primary condition that has not been met is the opening of day-use favilties to the public for all to enjoy Double Island.  Mr. Benny Wu purchased the lease in 2012 for nearly $6-million.

Minister Crawford explained that the conditons have not been met by the deadlines given (March 2023) by the State Government and that it is likely that the lease will be forfeited.

John MacKenzie chats with Russell Beer, Chairman of Ports North, about the confirmation that Cairns will again be a home port for P&O Cruise's Pacific Explorer ship in 2023/2024.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, P&O Cruises had a long-term ship ported in Cairns so the announcement has been highly anticipated by avid holiday-goers.

Mr. Beer explained that home porting in Cairns brings visitors into the region who will fly in and out of cairns to embark on their chosen cruise.

It was further announced that by 2025, Townsville City, will be marked on thew map as a port of call for cruisers.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Jonny from Cairns, who was attacked by young thugs for intervening when an elderly woman was being assaulted in a suburb north of Cairns.

The youths were inhaling deodorant when they attacked Jonny and could be heard stating "We Own Cairns!"

The state of emergency on crime continues to worsen.

John MacKenzie chats with John Moore, Former Director of Australian Rugby League, about potential funding for Barlow Park upgrades by the Queensland Government as a part of the 2032 Olympic Games planning.

On Wednesday, Cairns Regional Councillors voted unanimously to cooperate with the State Government on delivering "Olympic Legacy Upgrades" to the sporting venue located on the corner of Scott and Severin Street.

On a sad and separate note, NRL Footy legend, Sam Backo, is in a critical condition in Cairns Hospital following a heart attack. 

John MacKenzie chats with Cr. Brett Olds, CRC Representative for Division 9, about the lease conditions for Double Island after a state inquiry into Island upkeep in Queensland.

Lease-holder of Double Island, Benny Wu, has not met conditions to provide day use facilities for members of the public to enjoy, nor has necessary repairs and maintainence been adequately conducted according to observations made by politicians.

In mid-2022, Mr. Wu was given a March 31 2023 deadline by the State Resources Department to meet the contract's conditions or forefeit the lease.

John MacKenzie chats with Richie Bates, Former President of Cairns Cycling Club & Former CRC Councillor, about E-Scooters and aspects of the law.

Legal firm Slater & Gordon conducted a survey that found a slight majority of road users do not want to see more e-scooters on Australian roads.

Cairns is seeing an increase in the use of electronic scooters as a commuting option, with the rollout of Beam e-scooters in late 2022 and an update of laws regarding e-scooters on Queensland roads and footpaths.

John MacKenzie and 4CA celebrate the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon's 20th Anniversary with a live broadcast.

John caught up with former Queensland Premier at the time, Peter Beattie, to reminisce and celebrate the 20-year milestone for a piece of iconic infrastructure.

Happy 20th Birthday to the Lagoon!

John MacKenzie chats with Leigh Ratcliffe, Founder of the Palm Cove Master Plan, about a proposed 6-story tower that many say would conflict with the natural settings and beauty of Palm Cove.

Considered by many locals to be the Father of Palm Cove, Mr. Ratcliffe detailed the master plans to unsure the future of plam cove that he compiled some 40-years ago.

"Buildings Should Never be Taller than the Palm Trees" is a sentiment echoed throughout the community.

If you are opposed to the currently proposed development for Palm Cove then you need to email your concerns to the Cairns Regional Council.

Letters against the development can be emailed to [email protected]

Alternatively, to sign a petition, then head down and find the stall at the upcoming Palm Cove markets held on Sunday 2nd April 2023.

John MacKenzie chats with talkback caller, Scott from Cairns, who had an issue with parking meters and cash payments.

The cashless debate continues in Cairns, prompted by a call a few weeks ago who revealed that certain CRC facitlities no longer accept cash as an optyion for payemnts.