Cairns police arrest teens over allegedly breaking in to Westcourt units
Two teens who were allegedly looking into several units at a complex before trying to open door handles have been arrested by police.
Cairns
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G’day Far Northerners, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening across the region this week, March 20 to March 25.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
New clean energy proposal hits headwind amid planning queries
Controversial call made on pub barron’s plan for Tolga Hotel
Man to face court on charge of obstructing police at blaze
TODAY’S NEWS
Multiple property offences
Officers from the Cairns Property Crime Squad charged multiple youths on Thursday, linked to offences in the Cairns area this week.
Police received information from members of the public that two teens were riding bikes through a Vievers Cl, Westcourt unit complex and were seen looking into several units, before trying door handles. The pair left a short time later and it’s alleged they entered an adjacent property before breaking into a unit.
It’s alleged the pair were disturbed by a resident before police were called and they fled. Police from the Tactical Crime Squad arrived a short time later and apprehended the pair in Mann Street.
The 17-year-old Westcourt boy was charged with two counts of trespass and one count each of attempted enter dwelling and commit, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and obstruct police.
The 15-year-old Edmonton boy was charged with two counts of trespass and one count each of attempted enter dwelling and commit, obstruct police and unlawful possession of stolen property.
Police opposed bail for both boys and they are scheduled to appear in the Cairns Children’s Court this month.
Further, officers charged a 35-year-old Edmonton man with two counts of stealing and six counts of enter and commit.
Police allege the man stole a quantity of alcohol from a business in Manunda in 2018, while police further allege, he stole more alcohol from bottle shops in Manunda, Mooroobool and White Rock this week. He appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday and is scheduled to reappear on April 7.
THURSDAY’S NEWS
Serious crash
Paramedics have been called to a motorcycle crash in Edmonton.
At 3.44pm Queensland Ambulance Service officers received a call about a man who had been involved in a motorcycle on Exploration Way.
A QAS spokesman said the patient was in a critical condition and was being assisted by three units, including a critical care team.
#Edmonton - Paramedics are assessing one patient following a serious motorcycle crash on Exploration Way at 3.44pm.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) March 24, 2022
“We are at a nasty motorcycle crash, it’s just one patient but he has sustained critical injuries,” he said.
It has not yet been confirmed which hospital the rider will be taken or if he will be taken via road or rescue helicopter.
Fatal traffic crash
A man has died following a traffic crash in Mareeba on Tuesday morning.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated an 84-year-old Mareeba man was riding a mobility scooter along Rankin Street about 7.15am when he was involved in a crash with a silver 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander, driven by a 28-year-old Mareeba woman, who was driving in the opposite direction to the man.
Police said the man was taken to Mareeba Hospital but died on Wednesday.
The woman was not physically injured.
Forensic Crash Unit investigators are appealing for witnesses to the crash, especially those with dashcam, to come forward.
Anyone with information for police can quote this reference number: QP2200489239
Busy night for police
The Cairns tactical crime and dog squads have hunted down a pair of teenagers after a car was allegedly broken into on Sunbird St in Woree just after midnight.
The Cairns tactical crime squad and Cairns dog squad conducted patrols in the area and found a 14-year-old Gordonvale boy and 13-year-old White Rock boy in nearby bushland.
Police will allege the 14-year-old was in possession of housebreaking implements.
The 14-year-old was charged with enter premise and commit indictable offence, possess tainted property, trespass and possession of house breaking implements.
The 13-year-old was charged with enter premise and commit indictable offence, possess tainted property, trespass and stealing.
They are both scheduled to appear in the Cairns Children’s Court.
In separate occurrences, a further 10 people aged between 13 and 35 were arrested overnight and charged with more than 50 property related offences, including unlawful use of a vehicle, stealing, trespassing, burglary and unlawful entry.
Industrial fire
Firefighters were called to reports of “explosions and flames” at an industrial site on the Tablelands overnight.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said crews were called to a Bowers Street address in Mareeba about 7pm on Wednesday night.
The spokesman said two crews attended the scene, where they discovered an oxygen cylinder had exploded.
The fire was extinguished about 7.50pm.
Police and ambulance officers were also in attendance.
WEDNESDAY’S NEWS
Multiple offences, Cairns area
On Tuesday, police charged a 16-year-old Brinsmead boy following multiple alleged
offences in the Manunda, Cairns North and Kamerunga area over the past five days.
Police allege the teenager entered a McCormack St, Manunda, residence in the early hours of March 18, before finding a set of car keys and stealing a car from the premises.
It will be further alleged the boy entered a Lake St Cairns residence about 1am on March 21, where he also stole car keys and a car from the property.
The boy arrested at a Bridge Close residence in Brinsmead on Tuesday.
He has been charged with two counts each of burglary, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed driving and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count each of attempting to enter dwelling and receiving tainted property.
Tully – single-vehicle crash
Paramedics responded a single-vehicle crash on the Bruce Hwy, Tully at 9.34pm Tuesday and transported a stable male patient to Townsville Hospital.
TUESDAY’S NEWS
Motorbike and vehicle crash
Police and emergency services were called to a smash between a car and a motorbike on Grafton St about 5.30pm.
Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics responded to the scene and took one patient to a Cairns Hospital.
The patient is in stable condition.
Serious assault charge, Cairns North
Cairns detectives have charged a 17-year-old Edmonton boy following investigations into the serious assault of a ride-share driver about 2.25pm on March 11.
It will be alleged the teenager entered the ride share vehicle with two other males on Lake St.
The boy allegedly became verbally abusive after being asked by the driver to not sit in the front seat and to wear a mask.
The ride-share driver drove to Cairns hospital in fear of his safety after the teenager attempted to grab him from the back seat. The boy then exited the car and opened the driver’s door, punching the driver several times in the face.
Police said the group then fled the scene.
The driver was taken to the emergency department for treatment of a broken eye socket.
The teenager was taken into custody by detectives on Monday.
He was charged with causing grievous bodily harm and is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Children’s Court.
Scooter and vehicle crash
Emergency services responded to a crash between a mobility scooter and a car in Mareeba about 7.15am on Tuesday.
The man riding the scooter was taken to hospital. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed paramedics attended the crash on the corner of Rankin and Stewarts streets, Mareeba.
“One patient, a male, was transported to Mareeba Hospital in a stable condition with abrasions to his pelvis,” the spokesman said.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said firefighters also attended the scene.
“A crew attended the collision between a vehicle versus mobility scooter,” he said.
“We were there and made the scene safe.”
MONDAY’S NEWS
Shocking crash photos
Widespread power outages have been reported after two cars smashed into electricity poles in separate high-speed crashes across the region.
Ergon Energy crews were working to restore power to 122 homes in Freshwater, Kamerunga and Barron after a car crashed into a power pole on Monday morning.
A photo of the scene revealed the extent of the wreck.
“Please, please, please drive safely,” an Ergon spokesman said.
“This is the second motor vehicle accident in Far North Queensland in as many days that’s involved one of our poles.
“Crews are on site and will restore power to customers around Freshwater as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
It came just a day after Ergon published images of another power pole crash in Goondi Bend near Innisfail.
That smash caused significant power outages in the area.
Motorbike crash
A motorcyclist is in a serious condition after a crash on an inner-suburb road overnight.
Paramedics were called to the corner of Birch and Clarke streets in Manunda at 3.04am on Monday.
A man was taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition with significant leg injuries with critical care paramedics on board.
Parramatta Park burglary
Officers from the Cairns Tactical Crime Squad arrested and charged a 27-year-old Parramatta Park man following an alleged burglary at a Draper St unit.
The man allegedly entered the unit through an unlocked back door about 1.20am on Sunday, stealing a handbag with a key to a car parked out front.
The man then allegedly stole the car.
The occupants of the unit heard the car drive off and called police.
Officers saw the car several times before finding it parked in the rear of a Cairns North shopping village with the man sitting in the car.
The 27-year-old Parramatta Park man was charged with one count each of burglary, unlicensed driving, receiving tainted property, unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He was bailed and scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on April 6.
Break and enter, Gordonvale
Two boys aged 16 and 17 were charged on Saturday after police were alerted to an alleged break-in at a building site on Draper Rd in Gordonvale.
Police said the two boys forced entry through a temporary ply wall and gained entry to the site during the night.
They proceeded to allegedly load up wheelbarrows with tools and equipment before wheeling the property away.
The teens allegedly returned to the building site several times during the night, each time stealing wheelbarrow loads of tools.
Officers from Edmonton Station and Cairns Property Crime Unit were shown muddy wheelbarrow tyre marks on the footpath that they followed to a Fisher Rd address in Gordonvale.
Police detained people at the address and conducted an emergent search, finding the alleged stolen property and a small quantity of cannabis.
A 16-year-old Gordonvale boy was charged with one count each of enter premises and commit indictable offence, possess dangerous drugs and possess utensil.
The 17-year-old Bentley Park boy was charged with one count of enter premises and commit indictable offence.
Both boys will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justices Act.
WEATHER
Cairns can expect a sunny Thursday.
With a minimum temperature of 22 degrees and a top of 31 degrees, light winds of 15 to 25km/h are expected in the morning before becoming light in the evening.
Across the region
Cairns: Sunny, 22-31C
Atherton: Sunny, 16-28C
Cardwell: Sunny, 21-31C
Cooktown: Mostly sunny, 24-32C
Innisfail: Sunny, 21-31C
Mareeba: Sunny, 18-30C
TRAFFIC
Cairns North
Roadworks, line marking on Sheridan St, Cairns North, southbound towards Cairns City to April 4, 2022. Allow extra travel time.
Cape Tribulation / Kimberley
Roadworks have been reported on Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Road at Cape Tribulation / Kimberley
Long delays are expected in both directions towards Wujal Wujal.
Coen / Laura
The Peninsula Developmental Road is subject to a 5 Tonne GVM limit from Laura to Coen due to water over the road.
Craiglie / Mowbray
Road safety upgrades on the Captain Cook Hwy are expected to cause delays to March 30, 2022.
Edmonton/Gordonvale
Roadworks are being carried out on the Bruce Highway — Cairns Southern Access Corridor — Stage 3: Edmonton to Gordonvale. Delays expected (during active hours of work), with all lanes in both directions affected. The work is expected to run until June 30, 2023.
Edmonton / Gordonvale / Wrights Creek
Road works on Yarrabah Rd and the Bruce Highway due to the Cairns Southern Access Corridor — Stage 3: Edmonton to Gordonvale are expected to cause motorist delays.
All lanes in both directions are affected and changed traffic conditions are in place.
Feluga
Major intersection upgrade at East Feluga Road and Bruce Hwy. Delays are expected to August 12, 2022.
Lake Eacham
Wrights Creek Road is closed to all traffic. Motorists are advised to use an alternative route.
Malanda
Bridge Replacement Works are being undertaken at Williams Creek on Merragallan Road commencing 29 November 2021 through to April 2022. A full road closure will be in place. There will be no access across the Williams Creek or any sidetrack in operation.
Ravenshoe
Roadworks have been reported at Grigg St, Ravenshoe and are expected to December 12, 2022.
Wrights Creek
Hill Road Closed permanently from the Bruce Highway to Harris Road to December 2024.
WHAT’S ON
The following Cairns Regional Council services are available:
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Picnic benches outside of Muddies
Public barbecues
Fitness equipment
Playgrounds including Muddy’s Playground and the Fun Ship Playground
Basketball and tennis courts
Bump tracks and BMX tracks (within parks)
The Esplanade Activity Precinct (skate plaza, bouldering park, beach volleyball courts, multipurpose court)
The Lagoon and Council-run swimming pools
Flecker Gardens
Arts and cultural venues including Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Tanks Arts Centre, the Courthouse gallery
Buy Back Shop
Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Barlow Park
Tobruk, Smithfield and Gordonvale pools
Marlin Coast Recreation Centre
Green Space Our Place
TOP EVENTS THIS WEEK
Laughing Heart Comedy – Weekly Showcase Mondays
What: FNQ’s weekly comedy club event.
Where: Three Wolves
When: Monday 20th, 7-9pm
Tickets: Click here
Pool Party @ The Benson Hotel
What: Part of the ZIC ZAC Festival, the Benson is hosting a pool party with guest music performances from King Princess, Anna Maria and more.
Where: The Benson Hotel
When: Sunday 27th March, 12-8pm
Tickets: Click here
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