Today in Cairns: Boy attacked by a wallaby at a Cairns beach

Three paramedic crews are attending an incident after a young boy was attacked by a wallaby at Kewarra Beach.

G’day Far Northerners, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening across the region this week, April 11 to April 15.

TODAY’S HEADLINES

‘Our city by night’: Public drunkenness on display

Cairns building contractor facing 21 charges

FNQ’s 50 most influential women in sports

‘Local fresh fish’: Cairns Fishmongers gear up for Easter

What $107.5m water pledge means for Cairns stadium

TODAY’S NEWS

A boy is currently being treated by paramedics for facial wounds after being attacked by a wallaby at Kewarra Beach.

According to a Queensland Ambulance representative, they were called to the incident at 12.09pm.

“Paramedics are treating a pre-teen boy for lacerations on his face,” she said.

“We have three vehicles at the scene.”

The circumstances as to how wallaby came into contact with the boy are not yet known.

It is understood that police will investigate the incident.

Update 10:20am At around 10.17am emergency services were called to attend a vehicle crash at the intersection of Pease and Anderson streets, Manoora.

According to a Queensland Ambulance representative, a road crew attended the scene.

“However, no transport was required,” she said.

Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder said motorists could expect to see police anywhere, anytime and he urged everyone to take extra care on the roads.

He said after the 2021 Easter long weekend saw six lives lost and police want all motorists to return home safely this Easter.

“It’s imperative that you be patient, plan your journey properly and avoid driving fatigued”, he said.

“Please remember that every decision you make on the road this Easter, counts.”

Paramedics and other emergency services are at the scene of a single vehicle crash on the southbound lane of Ray Jones Drive, Portsmith on Friday morning.

It is understood the crash occurred around 10am.

A Queensland Ambulance representative confirmed they had one road crew at the incident.

“Our paramedics are attending to one male patient,” she said.

According to the Queensland Fire and Emergency website they also have a fire truck and crew is also at the scene.

Police are also understood to be investigating the incident.

THURSDAY’S NEWS

Crocodile sighting, Etty Bay

Etty Bay is closed to the public following a crocodile sighting on Thursday morning at roughly 9am.

North Queensland’s lifeguard supervisor Jay March said a two metre crocodile was spotted in the protected swimming nets by a lifeguard reporting to his shift at 9am.

“The nets have been taken in and the beach has been closed until further notice,” he said.

“In scenarios like this, it’s really important to also refer the sightings to the council’s Parks and Wildlife Department to assist with security and safety measures.

“We encourage the public to please report any crocodile sightings both to lifeguards and council.”

Multiple property charges

A 16-year-old Bungalow boy will face 11 charges following his arrest by officers from the Property Crime Squad at a Bungalow home on Wednesday.

It will be alleged the boy was involved in a number of property offences in the suburbs of Bungalow and Westcourt between Monday and Tuesday.

The teenager allegedly stole a golf buggy from a Westcourt Retirement Village on Tuesday after forcing entry to a building by damaging doors and windows.

The buggy has been located and returned to the village.

The boy was also charged over offences allegedly committed in Dimbulah.

Police allege he stole keys and a Ford sedan from a Raleigh Street home at Dimbulah on April 10.

The vehicle was found in Dimbulah only hours later after it ran out of fuel.

He was also charged with allegedly attempting to enter a Kennedy St home at Dimbulah, stealing keys and two vehicles from a residence on Mareeba Dimbulah Rd on Sunday.

Both vehicles have since been recovered.

The boy’s bail was refused and he is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Children’s Court charged with four counts of entering a premises, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of burglary and one count each of entering a dwelling and fraud.

Multiple burglary and vehicle theft charges

A 20-year-old Mooroobool man will face 13 property charges following his arrest on Wednesday.

It will be alleged the man committed multiple burglary and vehicle theft offences specifically in Bungalow on March 26 and Parramatta Park on April 2.

He was allegedly involved with others in the theft of six vehicles from the two suburbs, all stolen vehicles have since been recovered.

He was charged with six counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, five counts of burglary, and one count each of entering a dwelling and unlicensed driving.

He is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on April 29.

Man charged, vehicle theft offences

An 18-year-old Edge Hill man will face court on Thursday following his arrest by officers from the Property Crime Unit yesterday.

Police investigations linked the man to the alleged theft of vehicles from Bromell Close at Redlynch on March 25, Springfield Cres at Manoora on March 29, and Kewarra Beach on April 7.

All vehicles have been recovered with varying degrees of damage including smashed windows, graffiti inside the vehicles and panel damage.

One car was located undamaged.

He was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and possession of drug utensils.

His bail was refused and he was scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.

TUESDAY’S NEWS

Threatening violence

Officers from Edmonton Station were called to an Accatino St, Edmonton residence about 1.30am on April 9, arresting a 29-year-old Bungalow man following an alleged disturbance.

It will be alleged the 28-year-old resident has returned home and another person known to their roommate was at the residence.

An alleged argument has ensued between the two before the Bungalow man has allegedly produced a knife from his bag threatening the resident with the knife before stabbing into a screen door next to the resident.

Police were called and conducted a search of the man allegedly locating a small amount of

dangerous drugs in the man’s possession.

The 29-year-old man was charged with one count each of threatening violence and possessing

dangerous drugs. He was bailed to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on April 28.

Drug driving

Officers from the Cairns Highway Patrol Unit charged a driver on Friday, April 8 following an alleged driving incident at Bungalow.

It will be alleged a 36-year-old Bungalow man has driven along Hannam St Bungalow before

revving his car and doing a burnout.

Officers were close by and intercepted the driver.

A roadside drug test was conducted returning a positive result.

The man has accompanied officers back to a station were he has allegedly provided another positive result.

The 36-year-old Bungalow man was charged with one count each of wilfully drive to make noise or smoke and drug drive.

The vehicle was immobilised for 90 days and he will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on May 18.

Port Douglas – single-vehicle crash

A single-vehicle crash on Reef Street at 8.08pm, Monday resulted in a stable patient being transported to Mossman Hospital.

WEATHER

On Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a partly cloudy day in Cairns with a medium per cent chance of rain. Winds are expected to become south-easterly at 20 to 25 km/h increasing to 30 to 35km/h in the morning then going down to 20 to 25km/h in the evening.

QLD_CP_NEWS_WEATHER_06APR22

Across the region on Thursday

Cairns: Possible shower 24-30C

Atherton: Possible shower 18-25C

Cardwell: Shower or two 23-29C

Cooktown: Shower or two 24-30C

Innisfail: Shower or two 22-28C

Mareeba: Partly cloudy 20-28C

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.

Traffic drives along the Kuranda Range Road. Picture: Brendan Radke

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

Easter Adventure Carnival

Giant inflatable slide, competitions, an Easter egg hunt and arts and crafts stations awaits kids ready to enjoy Easter early

When: Monday, April 11 to Thursday April 14 from 10am to 2pm

Where: Mt Sheridan Plaza

Price: Free

Easter-themed Putt Putt

Suitable for kids aged three and above, an Easter themed putt putt is at Cairns Central with the opportunity to win prizes if you score a hole in one

When: Monday, April 11 to Saturday 16 April (excluding Good Friday) from 10am to 2pm

Where: Cairns Central Centre

Price: Free

Chocolate Lover’s High Tea

This Easter weekend, experience a chocolate filled high tea indulgence with a cocktail or glass of Chandon on arrival

When: Friday, April 15 to Monday April 18 from 11am to 3pm

Where: Pullman Cairns International

Price: Non-member adults $60 and children 5 to 14 years $29, kids under 5 eat free

So Fresh Party Cairns 2022

Celebrating music, fashion & pop culture from the 2000s, the So Fresh Party will be playing hits from the past.

When: Saturday, April 16 at 8pm

Where: The Jack

Price: Tickets are $21.75 – $37.24

Skypark’s Easter EGGstravaganza

There will be 100 eggs hidden around Skypark with prizes to be won for both kids and adults. Live music, face paints and arts and crafts will also be available.

When: Saturday, April 16 from 11am to 3pm

Where: Skypark Cairns

Price: Free entry

Originally published as Today in Cairns: Boy attacked by a wallaby at a Cairns beach