Today in Cairns: Redlynch storm drain crash ends with teen in hospital
Paramedics have rushed to a teen driver’s rescue after a car careened into a storm drain at a busy Cairns intersection. Plus we have all your latest headlines, weather and events.
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G’day Far Northerners, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening across the region this week, November 1 – November 5.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Search of ‘fast-walking pedestrian’ that found MDMA deemed unlawful
‘Explain why’: Suspensions loom as hospital prepares for onslaught
Warning to unvaccinated people in Cairns about facing up to ‘sad reality’
How your Christmas gifting can help boost Cairns
Development marches on with Queenslander marked for demolition
TODAY’S NEWS
Redlynch crash
A teenage boy has copped demerit points and a visit to hospital after crashing into a storm drain at a busy intersection overnight.
Paramedics were called to the intersection Brinsmead Rd and the Cairns Western Arterial Rd after the crash about 1.35am on Friday.
Police said a white Holden Commodore sedan was travelling east along the Cairns Western Arterial Rd when it veered off the road and into a ditch.
The car had extensive damage with both airbags deployed by the time officers arrived.
The P-plater driver, 17, received minor injuries and was taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.
He was issued with an infringement notice for careless driving which carries a penalty of a $551 fine and three demerit points.
Investigations into the matter are continuing.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Water outage hits Weipa
Water has been restored in the areas of Tecoma and Dalpura Courts after an emergency water outage on Thursday.
The water supply in Weipa was impacted until about 5pm Thursday after a “significant water leak”, Weipa Town Authority advised.
“Thank you to the residents of these courts for your patience and understanding,”
Residents were earlier urged to “take all efforts to conserve water” following the leak at Rocky Point.
Two injured in crashes
Two people have been taken to hospital after separate highway crashes in the Oak Beach area this morning.
Paramedics were called to the Captain Cook Highway at 7.42am for a single-vehicle rollover.
One patient was taken to Mossman Hospital in a stable condition with neck pain.
Another person was also taken to Mossman Hospital after a rollover at 10.30am. Queensland Ambulance Service reported they were also in a stable condition.
It was the third crash near Oak Beach in 12 hours after a single-vehicle incident just before midnight Wednesday.
Upper Barron crash
Paramedics took one patient to Atherton Hospital in a stable condition with leg and head injuries after a single-vehicle crash on the Kennedy Highway at 7.08pm on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Teens arrested over break-in
Innisfail police have arrested five teenagers following an alleged break-in at the golf club on Palmerston Drive.
Police will allege that about 9.45pm on Monday, entry was forced to the club and security cameras and other property was damaged.
Residents living close to the golf club heard noises and disturbed the group, who then allegedly fled the scene.
Police on Tuesday arrested five people – four boys aged 12 to 17, and an 18-year-old man. They were taken to Innisfail Watchhouse and charged with one count each of wilful damage and enter and commit an indictable offence.
Some of the boys are scheduled to appear in the Innisfail Children’s Court and others will
be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
Police opposed the bail of the 18-year-old Innisfail man. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in the Innisfail Magistrates Court today.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Rescue helicopter spotted
A rescue helicopter was spotted circling Cairns suburbs including Woree, Mooroobool, Parramatta Park, Westcourt and Bungalow on Tuesday evening.
A police spokesman said a silver Hyundai Getz was alleged to have run a red light and then was driven erratically near the intersection of Brown Street and Mulgrave Road at Westcourt about 4pm.
He said police used the helicopter to search for the car but were unable to find it and stopped the search.
Croc sighting closes beach
Lifeguards have closed Palm Cove beach this afternoon due to a crocodile sighting.
Beachgoers are urged to follow the advice of lifeguards and stay out of the water.
Monday also marked the start of stinger season in the region, with nets now installed at several beaches.
The nets are located at Port Douglas, Mission Beach, Etty Bay and Palm Cove.
Men charged over machete-related incidents
Police have arrested a 33-year-old Bungalow man after reports that a man had been seen riding a pushbike carrying a machete.
Police will allege about 2pm on Monday, November 1, a 50-year-old Bungalow man returned home and saw a man in the backyard with the large knife.
The 50-year-old man contacted police then opened the gate to wait for the officers.
Police will further allege the other man rode his pushbike at the 50- year-old man with the machete in his hand.
Police arrived and arrested the 33-year-old man.
He was taken to the Cairns Watchhouse and charged with one count each of going armed as to cause fear and obstruct police.
He is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on November 18.
Meanwhile, Mareeba police have charged a 23-year-old man with going armed as to fear following an incident in the early hours of Tuesday.
Police allege the man was walking along Byrnes Street about midnight, carrying a 40cm long machete.
The man allegedly approached a vehicle and threatened the occupants with the machete.
The man then left the area and police were contacted.
The man continued to walk along Byrnes Street and approached the same vehicle and allegedly threatened the occupants a second time.
Upon police arrival, the machete was seized, and the 23-year-old man was arrested and later charged.
Police opposed bail and he is scheduled to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court November 2.
Bridge crash cleared
Emergency services responded to a single-vehicle crash on the Barron River bridge near Kuranda.
The bridge is now cleared however a police spokeswoman said traffic was moving slowly across the bridge following the crash about 11.30am.
No serious injuries have been reported.
The bridge returned to two lanes last week after it was reduced to a single lane for repairs over the past year.
Patient ‘trampled by cow’
Paramedics have treated one person in the Upper Daintree after they were “trampled by a cow”, according to the Queensland Ambulance Service.
The patient was in a stable condition with head and back injuries after the incident on a private property at 8.11am.
Yarrabah road cleared
Pine Creek Yarrabah Road at East Trinity has been cleared after it was closed in both directions due to a wide-load obstruction on Tuesday morning.
Earlier, police said extensive delays were expected and motorists should avoid the area.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads had received reports that two trucks were broken down at the location, which is southbound towards Yarrabah.
Teens injured in crash
Paramedics transported two female patients in their teens to Atherton Hospital in stable conditions, one with facial injuries and one with neck and back injuries, following a single-vehicle crash on Merragallan Road and Landry Road at 6.21pm.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 2
Man charged over triple-0 hoax calls
Cairns police have charged a 22-year-old Manoora man after he allegedly made repeated hoax calls to triple-0.
Police will allege about 12.30am on Sunday, the man repeatedly called requesting emergency services attend a unit fire.
It will be further alleged some of the calls were made in an abusive and harassing manner.
Two Queensland Fire and Emergency Services units attended the location of the alleged fire. Upon arrival it was determined there was no fire or emergency threat.
The man was taken into custody early Sunday morning, where he was later charged with 11 counts of improper use of emergency call service.
He was denied bail and is due to face Cairns Magistrates Court today.
Superintendent Rhys Newton said alleged hoax calls consumed considerable resources and put other members of the community at risk in the event of a real emergency.
“Our Police Communication Centres across the state take more than 726,000 calls each year. These services save lives and it’s important they are used in emergency situations only.”
Police would like to remind the community that triple-0 (000) is for life-threatening emergencies.
Yorkeys Knob – two-vehicle crash
Three stable patients were assessed following a two-vehicle crash on the Captain Cook Highway and Yorkeys Knob Road at 5.23am. A female patient with head pain was subsequently transported to Cairns Hospital.
WEATHER
The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting a possible early shower on Friday with a 40 per cent of showers then a mostly sunny afternoon. Winds are predicted south-easterly at 15 to 20 km/h then moving 15 to 25km/h easterly in the middle of the day before becoming light in the evening.
Cairns is heading for a top temperature of 32C after an overnight minimum of 22C.
Across the region
Cairns: Possible early shower 22-32C
Atherton: Partly cloudy 17-28C
Cardwell: Possible morning shower 22-31C
Cooktown: Mostly sunny 24-32C
Innisfail: Shower or two 21-30C
Mareeba: Mostly sunny 19-31C
TRAFFIC
Archer River/ Mission River
Sealing of 10.1km of the Peninsula Developmental Road including drainage provisions at Archer River and Mission River is expected to continue to December 24 2021 with works ongoing Monday to Sunday 6am to 6pm and delays are expected.
Barron/Smithfield/Yorkeys Knob
Construction of the Smithfield Bypass project, which is to be completed in December 2021, could result in some delays during active construction hours. The project will construct a new 3.8km bypass between the McGregor Road roundabout and the Cairns Western Arterial Road and Captain Cook Highway roundabout as an alternative route to the Captain Cook Highway.
Bungalow
A speed reduction is in force on Mulgrave Road at Bungalow due to culvert damage near Brown Street.
Access across culvert in both directions along Mulgrave Road and Brown Street intersection is restricted to vehicles that comply with the general mass and concessional mass limits.
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.
Deeral / Gordonvale
There will be roadworks on the Bruce Highway between Mulgrave River Bridge and Lewis Road until December 6.
Motorists are advised to proceed with caution.
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.
Gordonvale
Temporary closure of Maher Road intersection with the Bruce Highway in both directions. From 7pm Monday to Sunday 7pm until December 31. Forms part of the works for the Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor.
Gordonvale
Culvert replacement works on the Gillies Range Road will be taking place until at least September 30. Lanes will be reduced as a result and motorists are advised to proceed with caution.
Japoonvale
A 25 tonne load limit has been imposed on the Little Liverpool Creek Bridge between Torrisi Rd and Walter Lever Estate Rd. No delays are expected.
Kuranda
Barron River Bridge on the Kennedy Highway reduced to one lane. Restricted to vehicles that comply with general mass limits. Partial lane closures. Both directions affected and delays expected. Allow extra travel time.
Lake Barrine
Road widening works on the Gillies Range Rd at Lake Barrine are expected to continue to September 2021 and delays are to be expected.
Lake Eacham
Wrights Creek Road is closed to all traffic. Motorists are advised to use an alternative route.
The next road inspection will take place on November 11, 2021.
Mareeba / Walkamin
Road widening works on the Kennedy Highway near Walkamin will take place between May 20 2021 and December 24 2021.
All lanes in both directions are affected and motorists are advised delays expected during active hours. Allow extra travel time.’
Georgetown
Roadworks to widen the Gulf Developmental Road to the east of Georgetown will continue until October 30.
Proceed with caution
Stewart Creek Valley
Road hazard being soft shoulders on Douglas Creek Road at
Stewart Creek Valley has forced a 5 tonne GVM limit.
Heavy vehicles have been advised to use an alternative route.
Boogan / Mourilyan
Pavement widening and rehabilitation is underway on the Boogan Road at Mourilyan.
Works are expected to operate from Monday to Sunday, 6am to 6pm.
Delays are expected, motorists are advised to proceed with caution.
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 IN CAIRNS THIS WEEK
Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup celebrations are almost under way with a burst of colour, fun and delicious food on offer across Cairns. We have compiled a list of some of the best places to go to on Tuesday.
PJ O’Briens Open Mic comedy
The first Open Mic comedy night at PJ’s. There will be some Cairns favourite comedians and some new fresh faces.
Where: PJ O’Brien’s Cairns
When: 7pm, Thursday, November 4
Cost: Free
Dizzy Doolan and Kaweyova
Indigenous pop artist Dizzy Doolan originally from Townsville will be presenting her unique style of music. She will be supported by Kaweyova who blends acoustic elements of pop, reggae, soul and RnB.
Where: Tanks Art Centre, Tank 5
When: 7:30pm, Friday, November 5
Cost: $20
Palm Cove markets
Over 140 stalls will feature along Williams Esplanade which will feature entertainment for kids, local arts and crafts and gifts.
Where: Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove
When: 8am – 2pm, Sunday, November 7
Cost: Free
Originally published as Today in Cairns: Redlynch storm drain crash ends with teen in hospital
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