Treasurer to annouce key Cairns schools project and other top stories.

• Treasurer to annouce key Cairns schools project

  

  Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt. Photo: Chris Hyde Treasurer Curtis Pitt will on Friday announce work will finally begin on one of Labor's flagship election policies - the $25 million Cairns Special School – for hundreds of disabled children.It has been heavily backed by Cairns MP Rob Pyne, himself a quadriplegic, as a "must" special needs project for Cairns. Rob Pyne MP raised a number of local Cairns issues he felt were not..

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• Sentinel circles DFO Cairns

  

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• Shopping trolleys pile up by the hundreds in Cairns council depot

  

  A trolley graveyard has been growing in a council storage yard in Bungalow. Picture: Marc McCormackTHIS is the place where Cairns shopping trolleys go to die — and it’s not pretty.A stockpile of hundreds of shopping trolleys collected from Cairns streets has been building on a Cairns Regional Council storage yard for months but requests for major supermarkets to collect the trolleys have been ignored.On Wednesday council approved a new local law that will force retailers with more than 25 trolle..

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• Assault accused granted bail by Cairns magistrate

  

  A MAN who allegedly knocked a stranger unconscious in a late-night attack on a major Cairns road has been released on bail after a magistrate ruled he posed no threat to the community.Tyrone Geordie, 19, who is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm outside a Mulgrave Rd service station in Parramatta Park.Tyrone Edward Jake Geordie, 19, was arrested for assault after allegedly being found drunk waiting beside an unconscious man who was lying in a pool of congealed blood beside Mulgrave Rd...

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• Cairns rescue chopper crew detail 2015 statistics

  

  Rescue 510 Cairns lifts off from Innisfail Hospital.RESCUE helicopter pilot Phil Cross was sent to Cape York late last year looking for two missing people but somehow returned with five.That was among the highlights of a hectic year for the Rescue 510 crew, who undertook about 70 searches during 2015 – an average of one every five days.The team have detailed just how frequently they are called into action with a snapshot of their tasks over the 12 months, which also included about 400 patient tr..

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• Taxpayers billed for charter plane to fly teachers' pets to FNQ's ...

  

  COCK-A-HOOP: Chickens, similar to these pictured, were part of a group of several animals on a taxpayer-funded flight to Mornington Island. PICTURE: PETE JOHNSONTAXPAYERS have forked out thousands of dollars to charter a plane to fly teachers’ pets from Cairns to a remote community in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Three dogs, two parrots and four chickens were the special passengers.The dogs and parrots belonged to teachers starting new jobs in Australia’s most isolated township, on Mornington Island..

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• Cairns' anger over Blue Badge delays

  

  A local TUV rep has hit out at delays in the processing of Blue Badge applications. Richard Cairns, TUV Assembly Candidate for South Antrim, said he was shocked to hear of a three-month delay in processing applications for those with a recognised disability. “Blue Badges are essential to those with disabilities, or parents, friends or family members who assist them with the essentials of everyday life. These badges allow the holders to get on with daily necessities such as shopping, getting to ..

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• FNQ set for more heavy falls as humidity takes hold of region

  

  Heavy fog lifts over City View after overnight storms in the Far North. Picture: Marc McCormackCAIRNS is set for more spectacular late-night light shows, with thunderstorms predicted until mid-next week. The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting muggy weather to continue in the Far North for several more days.But the humid conditions will bring even more overnight rain, with almost 120mm recorded at Cairns Airport after a late thunderstorm on Wednesday.“We’re expecting more storms in the area,” sai..

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• Stephen Weigh set to return for Taipans

  

  HE’S BACK: Stephen Weigh will return for the Taipans tonight against the Kings at the Cairns Convention Centre. Picture: Marc McCormackSTEPHEN Weigh says watching his teammates battle to make the playoffs over the past month without him has proved one of the most challenging periods of his NBL career.Weigh will finally return to the court tonight against Sydney, after a knee injury had him miss more than a month of basketball.He last suited up for the Taipans against the Perth Wildcats in Cairns..

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• Josephine Falls showcased in new Qantas safety video

  

  Qantas launches new safety video2:49A new safety video showcasing everyday Australians has been launched by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in LA. THE stunning Josephine Falls are featured in a new Qantas safety video that showcases Australia as an amazing place to visit.The short video, due to screen on hundreds of Qantas flights a day to a global audience of almost 30 million people a year, features Australians from all walks of life talking passengers through the on-board safety instructions against t..

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Cairns taxi industry ramps up calls for industry regulation .	ALP: 'The air needs to be cleared' .
Tears flow as the Coxless Crew arrives in Cairns .	Crew of four women rowing 15640km across Pacific Ocean set to ... .