Positive talks..."Where's the paper work?"

Positive talks, where's all the paperwork, one piece of of paper on the table tells it all we really don't have anything to talk about Aquis in Cairns.
If they (the Fungs) were fair dinkum they would have heaps of paperwork with them to discuss what's going on when in reality there's nothing going on.
As they say only on the Gold Coast.
Go away and leave Cairns in peace.

Positive talks: Justin & Tony Fung discuss the $8.5 bn project with State Treasurer Curtis Pitt, Ben Ready (consultant) Jason Humpreys Pitts (chief of staff) looks on

This has to be the most discussed project in Australia and we all know that it won't happen so why persist with it, Curtis Pitt there are more important things to discuss for Cairns than this unwanted monstrosity.

Go away I'm thinking

Upgrading a Casino with NO poker machines

The Fungs have announced an upgrade of $300 million dollars  to the $6 million dollar Canberra Casino which doesn't even have poker machines (this has been reported numerous times on this Blog).
Why would anyone want to spend that much money on a casino that nobody wanted and the previous owners according to reports they were glad to see the end of the Canberra Casino.

The Canberra Casino

 The new look updated version costing $300 million dollars

Again the business and community leaders are hoping: that plans by Aquis to spend $330 million on redeveloping the Canberra casino will provide the impetus for a restart of the stalled Yorkeys Knob venture. 
Don't these people read, google and talk to other people to get information NO THEY DON'T or they they would realise that it's all about the Gold Coast and Canberra.
Three years ago Aquis surfaced in Cairns and what  has developed in that time ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but yet we still have community leaders from the Mayor down to some local business people saying it will go ahead.
This is what Terry James the Deputy Mayor of Cairns had to say to John McKenzie when asked  on Thursday September 24, 2015 on whether he thinks that Aquis will go ahead:

Don't you love the way that local politicians are so positive in what they say even though Tony Fung doesn't have the money to build this monstrosity and that's why he wants to put it on the stock exchange.
They know that Cairns won't benefit from this casino because if it was going to happen it would have passed all requirement 18 months ago.
Again, don't blame the previous or present governments for the delays because the blame lies completely on the shoulders of the Fungs who did not complete the probity requirements nor did they attend the three formal meetings both of which were part of the investigation and requirements.

Another day in the Aquis saga

We're still dreaming & hoping!

 How much longer do the residents have to put up with this Aquis saga? it's becoming like the long running "Days of Our Lives"
The Fungs purchased Canberra casino for $6 million and intend spending $300 million on upgrades and the casino doesn't have poker machines and the ACT intends decreasing them further so what are their intentions?.
In Saturdays Cairns Post the headlines read: "Aquis back on track" and the states that "Aquis and State sign off on super resort deal and set timeline to make it happen" REALLY.
Hong Kong developer Tony Fung has signed a Process Deed with State Treasurer Curtis Pitt to re-enter the Integrated Resort Development (IRD) Process.
Remember, he withdrew from The IRD process last February stating stalled negotiations with the LNP... had Tony Fung completed the the Probity requirements and attended the 3 compulsory meetings  then things may been different.
Don't blame other people for something that you failed to do.
Then Mondays Cairns Post stated:
"In The Weekend Post, it incorrectly stated that State Treasurer Curtis Pitt signed the process deed with Hong Kong developer Tony Fung.
Mr Pitt met Mr Fung and other Aquis representatives before he was taken to a separate room and signed the documents with a State Development Department official. The documents were taken from State Parliament and lodged at the department’s offices". 
A comment by a reader in the Cairns Post stated:
Fung signs deal?? He has not 'signed' any 'deal'. "State Government officials and the Aquis development team will meet in about 2 weeks to finalise an IRD deadline timetable." ...so what exactly was the deal referred to here?? Was it an agreement to meet in two weeks to discuss a timeline to a process that may or may not result in this project ever being given a go-ahead?? He refused to provide info for probity last time around and following requests and rescheduling he pulled out of the process altogether. He'll be hoping the desire in QLD is now so great he wont have to do all that stuff this time... and that's where he has them now. QLD Govt now applying with the Fungs to build this resort. Not the other way around! If the IRD process is followed properly, I still can't see this thing getting off the ground.

Mayor Bob Manning

The Mayor goes onto say that:  Aquis could be the largest contributor to the region’s economic growth, and blamed the former and current State Governments for letting the approval process drag dangerously on.
How many times does it have to be said "it wasn't the previous or present government  that dragged things on the blame is on the Fungs for not completing all processes that were required.
If you think for one minute that is going to be thousands of jobs for Australians especially locals forget it they will employ nearly all Chinese workers and there's enough of Chinese living in Australia now to cover the employment and speak Mandarin... no training required.
If you read the comments in the Cairns Post and on Facebook more and more people are against this monstrosity.

Cairns would gain so much more financially by deepening the port so that larger ships can berth in Cairns and visitors can walk around the city at their leisure  instead of being "off loaded from the ship anchored off Yorkeys Knob, travel by another boat to Yorkeys Boat Club then loaded onto a bus to travel where they planned to go and the when the day sight seeing has completed back to the boring routine to get on board their ship.
It's a wonderful trip from the ship to shore when the southeasterly is blowing, in fact some don't even leave the ship.
It would be great if the Dream Team would put more effort into putting pressure on the government for the dredging as they do for Aquis and also help the local businesses in some way.
As stated before the Fungs have found their niche on the Gold Coast with Jetstar even starting direct flights from the Gold Coast to China....what does that tell you.

Time to Name & shame

On Sunday September 13, 2015 young hoodlums/vandals smashed glass and placed it in the  sand pit at Yorkeys State School.

This is not the actual sand pit, substitute photo

These mindless idiots just don't think of what damage can be caused or they just don't care which probably fits the bill better.
If one of the young students had started playing in the sand pit you can only picture the damage that could have been caused.
It is believed they are teens as the police have one description of one of the offenders.
Let's hope that they are apprehended and face court and receive the appropriate penalty and not a slap on the wrist.

7 News video at this link: https://www.facebook.com/7newscairns/videos/vb.464368187017206/829624133824941/?type=2&theater

When will our so-called civic leaders get more realistic?

Again in the Cairns Post Friday September 4, 2015 the headlines read:

Cairns’ business leaders pressure government to approve Aquis
Do these people ever read &  google the website to get information about Aquis or are they rubbing their hands together hoping to be up front with the Fungs. 
A message to our civic leaders "get over it Aquis will not happen you are being hoodwinked, it has been 3 years since this so-called project surfaced and as yet nothing.
Don't blame the governments past & present because it was Tony Fung who failed to complete the probity requirements and he failed to attend 3 formal meetings--- SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?.
There are more important issue to worry about in this regional city so get a life and start looking after the business sector as Aquis will not benefit Cairns in any way.
 Some of the comments in todays Post:

Mayor Bob Manning

 Cairns Mayor Bob Manning warned that as the government dithered about key decisions “time kills everything”.
Mr Manning also wants the Government to make the Port of Cairns a priority port with dredging the shipping channel to be put back on the agenda, despite State Development Minister Andrew Lynham ruling otherwise.
“The Government has got to make decisions on the channel and Aquis,” he said.

Ken Chapman

Now there is Ken Chapman whose family built Skyrail and now he's one of Aquis Directors why he's got himself involved with this is anyone guess, Mr Chapman stick with what you have created and built it is something to be proud of.
Chapman Group director Ken Chapman, who also is an independent director of Aquis Entertainment, said the Government needed to ­approve major projects such as Aquis and spend money on infrastructure for the region.
“They need to get going, they haven’t even done the planning,” he said. “They haven’t been preparing for the future in any big way.”
 Brett Moller had this to say:

Brett Moller

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland president Brett Moller said the Government must invest in infrastructure.rade, the second range crossing at Toowoomba and the Aquis integrated resort as the three big infrastructure projects that together will reinvigorate our economy,” he said.
We have identified the Bruce Highway upgrade, the second range crossing at Toowoomba and the Aquis integrated resort as the three big infrastructure projects that together will reinvigorate our economy,” he said.

Deb Hancock

Deb Hancock said:

Cairns chamber chief executive Deb Hancock said it was time for action.
“We have a list of projects totalling $21.5 billion across the Far North and a number of them are being hamstrung, either by being subject to government approvals that are taking far too long, or by government red tape that is adding to the cost of investing in Queensland,” she said.









Mark Matthews said:

Mark Mathews

Advance Cairns chief executive Mark Matthews said: “The Aquis development will be a significant contributor to our region’s growth, and we call on the government to finalise the arrangements so that the project can proceed without further delay.”


Finally, these people really need to consider the more important things around Cairns than Aquis.

The thinking monkey

Who runs Australia The government or UNESCO

The Parliamentary Select Committee has recommended today Tuesday Sept 1, 2015 that Cairns and Mourilyn ports be classified as strategic ports and not boutique ports.


BUT THEN:

The findings and recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee really meant nothing to the government so another waste of tax payers money on another inquiry.
The following is the report in the Cairns Post:


A WIDE-reaching inquiry by a Queensland parliamentary committee has found that excluding the Port of Cairns as a priority port would have a "detrimental impact" on the growth of the region and have negative impacts on employment and tourism, and on business.
The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee conducted a three-month inquiry into the Sustainable Ports Development Bill 2015, which was criticised by the Cairns business community for excluding Cairns and Mourilyan ports from a list of four "priority ports".

Organisations like Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Cairns Regional Council argued the Bill in its current form would restrict major future growth at the Port of Cairns.

And in handing down its report this week, the parliamentary committee agreed.

"The committee supports the view that excluding the Port of Cairns as a priority port may have a detrimental impact on the growth of the region, including adversely affecting employment, tourism, and business," the report stated.

Dr Anthony Lynham

"The committee is of the view that submitters have provided reasonable arguments in favour of declaring the Port of Cairns as a priority port."

by Minister for State Development, Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, who dismissed the committee’s findings just hours after they were released.

"I appreciate the committee’s consideration of the Bill and their report will be considered in full and in detail," he said in a statement.

"However, the Government will not divert from elements of the Bill which form part of our Reef 2050 plan.

"The Queensland and Australian governments committed to UNESCO for only four priority regional ports, and that commitment must stand."

The parliamentary committee unanimously recommended the Minister consider declaring Port of Cairns as a priority port, following "a considered assessment" of three areas – the environmental impacts on the Great Barrier Reef, the economic benefits to the Cairns region, and the Government’s commitments made to UNESCO and under the Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan.

Member for Mulgrave and Treasurer Curtis Pitt said he wanted to support growth, but not at the expense of the Reef.

"Future development opportunities for the Port of Cairns are accommodated in this Bill. It includes transitional arrangements protecting those projects currently undergoing an EIS process – notably the Cairns Shipping Development Project," he said.

The committee’s report will be presented to the Parliament for when the Bill is debated in coming months.

Enviromentalist...do they want to work with the community

The Cairns environmentalist's are at it again creating unnecessary problems.

Using two females holding a placard knowing that no one will touch them which is a total gutless approach to any situation... noticed you weren't standing in front of the billboard Josh Coates.
These people haven't even contacted the Cairnsport Group to discuss any matters in relation to the dredging.
They are experienced in creating confrontations with people without first asking people how things are going to done, where will the dredging be placed, will it be treated to rid the soil of contaminates and can it be used for fill.
These people don't realise and if they do (which is more likely) that parts of Cairns and most of Portsmith is built on "reclaimed land" what are they going to do about that? absolutely nothing and why won't they because it hasn't created any problems.
The dredging is one of the most important projects that Cairns needs as it will create jobs and will allow larger ships to berth in Cairns Port rather than at Yorkeys Knob which has proved not very acceptable to some passengers especially the elderly.
These activists caused the problem by standing in front of the billboard with a placard saying "propaganda" which is a total load of crap, the billboard was asking residents to sign the petition if they supported the dredging no one was forcing anything upon anyone in fact the area where the billboard was situated for the parade was a secured area so why were these people there? to cause trouble no doubt.

The fact is since these activists created the problem and splashed the video on Youtube and reported on Cairns 7 and Win news the signatures have increased supporting the dredging.

                             

Then on 7  Cairns News Josh Coates had this to say:
Josh Coates from the Cairns Enviromental Centre stated that he was scared and you see that by my hand shaking while filming he said, REALLY Josh I have watched that a number of times and the movement was no different than anyone else filming on a phone.

On Monday afternoon Cairns ABC interviewed Josh Coates from the Cairn Enviromental Centre who strongly objected to the float beeing allowed in the parade.
Mayor Bob Manning and John Murphy replied to the statements.