Bree's Barron River Bulletin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completing the Final Link at Earl Hill

 

The Crisafulli Government has invested $429,000 to complete the final stage of the Earl Hill walking track network. This new trail head will be at Trinity Beach and connect to the existing trails, making it a "mini Mount Whitfield". But with amazing beach views.

 

Even better news? Local legends Contour Works will be doing the works. This trail is in excellent hands under Evan, Ryan and the Contour Works crew.

 

A big thank you to Deputy Mayor Brett Olds, who has been a strong advocate for the completion of this project and worked tirelessly to champion the community's desire to see the final stage delivered.

 

Construction to begin soon with the completion date set for before the start of wet season.

 

Airport Bus Ready to Roll

 

After years of inaction by the former Government, Cairns is finally getting a direct public bus connection between the CBD and Cairns Airport. The new Route 100 service has been officially confirmed and is expected to begin operating by the end of the year. 

 

This is a fantastic outcome for residents, airport workers and visitors, providing a safe, affordable and convenient transport option between two of Cairns' busiest destinations. The new route will operate seven days a week, running every 30 minutes between 4:00am and 10:30pm, and will connect Cairns Airport with key destinations including Cairns Hospital, Cairns Private Hospital, Cairns City Bus Station and the Cairns Soundshell at Fogarty Park, offering a great way to get in and around the city too. And it will cost passengers just 50 cents!  

 

I would like to thank everyone who signed my petition and shared their feedback. 93% of the community were for this bus service and, thanks to your advocacy, I was able to get this service across the line. Community voices helped drive this outcome, and I'm proud to see this long-awaited service becoming a reality for Far North Queensland.

Cairns Western Arterial Road Early Works Begin

 

The Cairns Western Arterial Road Upgrade has reached a significant milestone, with early construction now underway on this long-awaited project that will improve safety, ease congestion and support our region's future growth.  

 

This is a fantastic example of all levels of government working together to deliver for Far North Queensland. I would like to thank the Premier David Crisafulli, Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg, and the Federal Government for their commitment to this important project and for helping get this critical upgrade across the line. I would also like to congratulate HEH Civil, who has been awarded the early works construction contract. As work gets underway, the project will create local employment opportunities while delivering infrastructure that will benefit our community for decades to come. 

 

This project has been fast-tracked under the Crisafulli Government's 2032 Delivery Plan, recognising the importance of improving transport infrastructure ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  

 

To see the stages of the project and for more information, click here.

 

Crime Updates for the Month

 

Queensland has recorded a 9.6 per cent reduction in the number of crime victims over the past 12 months, with targeted policing operations such as Yankee Forge and the State Flying Squad helping drive these encouraging results. While this is welcome news, the Far North has seen a much smaller reduction of 3.8 per cent, highlighting that our region still faces unique challenges when it comes to community safety.  

 

Some crimes have unfortunately increased including vehicle theft. For most locals, concerns about break-ins, stolen vehicles and repeat offending remain very real. While the latest figures show we are moving in the right direction, there is no room for complacency. Community safety continues to be one of the biggest issues raised with me across the region, and I remain committed to ensuring our region receives the attention and resources it deserves.  

 

We have more police recruited to our region than ever before, 209 more in the past twelve months. To read more about the actions we have taken to date, click here.  

 

We will continue working closely with Queensland Police to support targeted operations, strengthen community safety initiatives, and address repeat offending. Every victim prevented is a positive outcome, but our goal is simple: to ensure local families feel safe in their homes, businesses and neighbourhoods. 

 

We know that youth criminals breaching bail and reoffending is a major issue. When these criminals are locked up, crime drops significantly, so the next big step is reforming bail legislation- which we are committed to doing by the end of the year.  

 

 

Far North Queensland's disaster response capability has received a major boost with the arrival of three additional Airbridge Resilient Network Infrastructure (ARNI) communication trailers. These trailers have been co-designed with the FNQ SES to restore critical communications when cyclones, floods or severe weather damage traditional telecommunications infrastructure, helping keep communities connected when they need it most.  

 

The trailers are equipped with Starlink satellite technology, high-capacity battery storage, self-managed Wi-Fi systems and mobile communications capability. Importantly, they can be rapidly deployed into disaster-affected areas, allowing emergency services to continue coordinating responses and ensuring vital information reaches impacted communities, all designed by Speewah local Doug Stephens and his team at Airbridge Networks out of Smithfield.

 

With five ARNI trailers now deployed across Far North Queensland, our emergency services are better equipped than ever to support communities during severe weather events. We saw how challenging life was after the Jasper Floods, and the lack of comms made the situation even worse, so these trailers will be an absolute blessing in the future for residents and first responders to be able to regain comms, recharge their devices, and quite simply- stay connected.  

 

 

One year after Jack's Law was expanded and made permanent across Queensland, the results continue to demonstrate the value of giving police proactive powers to detect dangerous weapons before tragedy occurs. Across Queensland, more than 173,000 people have been scanned; more than 1,300 weapons seized and over 2,600 people charged. The impact has also been significant in Far North Queensland. Local police have conducted more than 12,500 scans and removed 119 weapons from our streets. Every weapon seized represents a potential incident prevented and another step towards making our communities safer. Police can now scan anyone anytime, anywhere.  

Competitions & Community Consultation

We currently have two great opportunities for locals to get involved, have their say and potentially win some fantastic prizes. 

 

 

Do you have an issue, idea or community concern you'd like to raise? The Get It Off Your Grill campaign is your chance to share what's important to you and help shape future priorities in Far North Queensland. By participating, you'll also go in the draw to win a Weber BBQ and a $400 voucher, in time for Father’s Day.   

 

Whether it's roads, community facilities, cost of living, sporting infrastructure, or local services, I want to hear directly from you and your family.  

 

 

 

I am also fighting for a proposed North Queensland Cowboys Community Sports Centre in Cairns. This exciting project has the potential to deliver significant benefits for local sport, recreation and community activities, and community input will help shape its future. This indoor, air-conditioned space will provide a facility up here for our elite athletes to train without having to travel to South-East Queensland. 

 

By registering your feedback, you'll stay up to date on the proposal and also have the chance to win a prize which includes 4 tickets to a Townsville Cowboys game plus accommodation at The Ville in Townsville.  

 

 

Play On! Vouchers Open Again

 

The popular Play On! Sports Vouchers program is back, helping families with the cost of getting children involved in sport and active recreation. Vouchers provide up to $200 towards registration fees, memberships and other participation costs, making it easier for young Queenslanders to get involved in the sports they love. Register here.  

 

The first year of the program delivered outstanding results across our community. In Barron River alone, 2,125 vouchers were redeemed, helping thousands of local children participate in sport and recreation. Across Far North Queensland, almost 14,000 children benefited from the initiative. The program has also helped drive a significant increase in participation by girls, with female participation increasing by around 30 per cent. 

 

With applications now reopening, I encourage local families to apply early and take advantage of this fantastic initiative. 

 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office if you require anything. 

If you want to share any key issues or concerns, you have in our region click here or scan the QR code below. 

 

By sharing your feedback, you will automatically be entered into the draw to win a $250 Gift Voucher.