Today in Cairns: A 59-year-old Mareeba man died following a single vehicle crash Friday afternoon
A report will be prepared for the coroner after a fatal single-vehicle traffic crash on the Tablelands.
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G’day Far Northerners, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening across the region this week, May 16 to May 20.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Far North school recognised among best in Australia
‘She was terrified’: Man convicted of rape
Labor costings questions as only one FNQ project gets nod
Crumbs from Cairns: Major party pledges dwindle in Katter country
‘I can win’: Why this election veteran just won’t quit
TODAY’S NEWS
Fatal traffic crash in Mareeba
A 59-year old Mareeba man has died following a single vehicle crash this afternoon.
Just before 4pm a passing motorist raised the alarm after coming across the 59-year-old man unconscious at the wheel of a white 2017 ford ranger dual cab utility.
The man was travelling east on Herberton Street near the intersection of Walsh Street.
He was attended to by an off-duty nurse who attempted to resuscitate the man while emergency response were on their way.
He was then transported to hospital in critical condition before passing away shortly later.
A coroner report is being prepared.
Firefighters knock down garage fire
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have extinguished a fire at a Redlynch address on Friday afternoon.
A QFES representative said tow fire trucks attended a garage fire at Harvey Rd.
“We were called at 12.34pm and two fire trucks were on scene 12.45pm,” she said.
“We had a crew each from Cairns and Smithfield Fire Stations.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus knocked the fire down,” she said.
“The fire was under control at 12.59pm.”
She said that Queensland Police, paramedics and Ergon Energy were also on scene.
“The property owner called the fire in,” she said.
“No-one was hurt, ambulance were in attendance purely as a precautionary measure.”
The QFES representative said the garage was located 40m from the residence.
It is understood that the fire was not suspicious,
“QFES are not investigating the cause,” she said.
Port Douglas comes alive for Carnivale
THE biggest Carnivale crowd in years is expected to roll into Port Douglas this weekend for the town’s largest annual event.
The three-day extravaganza kicked of on Friday with the traditional Longest Lunch at Rex Smeal Park before attention turns to the wildly popular street parade at 4pm.
Dixie Park, at the end of Macrossan Street, has been transformed into a festival hub with rides and activities for kids, with the Wonderland Spiegeltent towering in the distance along Dicksons Inlet.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the excitement in the town was palpable.
“This event is always huge for our region as locals and visitors get a chance to celebrate our unique lifestyle and stunning tropical region,” he said.
The event was cancelled in 2020 and was affected by the global pandemic last year, but there are no such barriers this weekend.
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the impact of Covid had provided “incredible challenges” to the annual Port Douglas party but applauded the Douglas Shire and organisers for this year’s jam packed program.
Other key events include the Family Beach Day on Saturday and the Seafood Extravaganza at the Crystalbrook Superyact Marina on Sunday.
“Port Douglas Carnivale (is) a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in Port Douglas’ local culture and community, and hopefully explore some of the superb tourism experiences on offer here,” Minister Hinchliffe said.
The Spiegeltent will also be hosting a burlesque show Rouge, family fare Circus Wonderland and adult entertainment Debauched, with Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows to close out its three-week season in Port Douglas.
Ladder fall at Holloways Beach
A man in his 50s was taken to Cairns Hospital overnight after falling 3m from a ladder.
The man is in a stable condition with lower back pain after the fall at a private residence at around 6.10pm on Thursday night.
Quad bike incident, Malanda
A man, believed to be in his 30s, has suffered a suspected arm injury after a quad bike accident in the Tablelands last night.
He was transported to Atherton Hospital in a stable condition after falling off the back of a quad bike on a Malanda property at 11.30pm.
THURSDAY’S NEWS
Enter Premise, Earlville
A 13-year-old Caravonica boy allegedly broke into an Earlville shopping centre on Thursday morning. He allegedly caused serious damage to the doors of the centre about 2.15am with another boy then stole items before leaving.
Police located him on Ishmael Road in Woree.
He was charged with one count each of enter premise and commit indictable offence, enter premise with intent to commit an indictable offence and wilful damage.
He will appear in the Cairns Childrens Court at a later date and he was granted bail with strict conditions.
Mooroobool man charged with wilful damage and public nuisance
A 22-year-old man from Mooroobool allegedly became abuse and aggressive towards staff about 1.20am on Thursday when he was asked to leave the licensed venue in Woree.
He left and police were called. The man then allegedly damaged a passing car on the road.
He was arrested and while he was taken to the Cairns Watchouse he allegedly kicked at the police car door and caused damage.
The man was charged with one count each of public nuisance, wilful damage and wilful damage of a police car. He is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on June 3.
WEDNESDAY’S NEWS
Kanimbla – single-vehicle rollover
A man in his 20s was transported to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition with a head injury and spinal precautions following a single-vehicle rollover on Lake Morris Road at 8.47pm.
Playground fire
Firefighters were called to a small fire in a playground at Walsh St, Mareeba on Tuesday about 12.30pm. A QFES spokesman said just one crew attended the incident which lasted about eight minutes.
TUESDAY’S NEWS
Queensland Ambulance paramedics including critical care specialists are assessing one patient in serious but stable condition following a single-vehicle and pedestrian incident on Pease St near Jensen St in Manoora at 8.21am.
A teenager has been transported to Cairns Hospital with serious but stable chest injuries.
A Queensland Police spokesman said officers were called at 8.26am to the Manoora incident
where it is understood a teen had been run over by a vehicle and is seriously injured.
“It appears to be a male in his early teens with a chest injury,” he said.
“Paramedics are still at the scene.”
He confirmed police would be investigating the incident.
Queensland Ambulance said they had been called to the incident at 8.24am and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services confirmed they had two crews at the scene of the incident.
Meanwhile, emergency services are also at the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Sheridan St near the intersection with James St in Cairns North around 8.24am.
An ambulance representative confirmed that two patients with back pain would be transported to Cairns Hospital.
A Queensland Police spokesman said they were alerted, “at 8.28am to the incident on Sheridan St / Captain Cook Hwy.
“A three vehicle top-and-tail crash with minor injuries reported and no entrapments,” he said.
MONDAY’S NEWS
Drink driver Manoora
A 45-year-old man from Freshwater was allegedly caught almost five times over the legal limit during a breath test at Manoora on Saturday night.
The man returned a breath test reading of 0.241, after he was stopped by police about 11.10pm on May 14.
He was intercepted on Reservoir road after he allegedly stopped his MG3 short of a roadside testing site.
The man refused to do a breath test at the Cairns station and his license was then suspended.
He is expected to appear at Cairns Magistrates Court on June 1. He has been charged with a High Range drink driving offence, unlicensed driving and two counts of obstruct police.
Mareeba man charged with going armed to cause fear
A 40-year-old Mareeba man is expected to appear in court after allegedly threatening residents at an address on Constance street about 3.30pm on Friday with a machete.
He then allegedly used the blade to cut the wiring to a security camera and then caused damage to another camera by striking it with a machete.
The man allegedly approached a car parked at the same address and punctured four tyres with the machete before leaving.
The man is expected to appear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on June 13. He has been charged with one count each of going armed to cause fear and wilful damage.
Kuranda incident
A 19-year-old man from Kuranda allegedly stole a quantity of food and alcohol at a business on Rob Veivers Drive between 9.30pm Thursday evening and around 7.30am on Friday morning after smashing the louvres.
The man is expected to appear at the Mareeba Magistrates Court on May 20. He has been charged with one count of enter premises and commit an indictable offence and fail to appear in accordance with undertaking.
Assault police and drug charge in Manunda
A 37-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly threw a container into bushes at Anderson Street about 10.20pm on May 14 once approached by police.
Police seized a quantity of what was allegedly cannabis and methylamphetamine in the container.
While being arrested, the man allegedly assaulted officers by trying to kick them. Noone was injured but the man was charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, assault police and one count of obstruct police.
He was expected to appear in custody on Monday.
Emergency services rush to smash at Far North school
UPDATE: A pregnant mother has been taken to the Cairns Hospital with abdominal pain following a crash that blocked the Bruce Highway near a Bentley Park school.
The road has been cleared and is now open in both directions following the two-vehicle crash involving a Toyota Landcruiser and a Mazda.
The woman’s hospitalisation was for precautionary measures, according to a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman.
Two children were also transported to Cairns Hospital with minor injuries.
The incident occurred just after 8.30am this morning in front of the Bentley Park College.
A male driver and one child were uninjured.
EARLIER Emergency services have rushed to the scene of a two-vehicle smash in front of a Cairns school which is expected to block one lane on the Bruce Highway.
Queensland Police, ambulance and fire crews are attending the incident near the Bentley Park College.
The northbound lane of the Bruce Highway will be closed.
It’s believed two adults and five children were involved in the crash, with no serious injuries recorded at this stage.
More to come.
WEATHER
On Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a shower or two with a medium chance of showers most likely in the morning and afternoon with light winds for Cairns.
Across the region on Friday
Cairns: Shower or two, 22-29C
Atherton: Shower or two, 17-25C
Cardwell: Showers easing, 21-28C
Cooktown: Shower or two, 22-29C
Innisfail: Showers, 21-27C
Mareeba: Shower or two, 19-28C
TRAFFIC
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.
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.
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
Your Wardrobe Cairns
Pre-loved fashion event Your Wardrobe Cairns returns this week, giving locals the opportunity to find and snag new, vintage and preloved fashion.
Where: Fred Moule Pavilion, Cairns Showgrounds
When: Saturday 28 May, 9am-1pm
Price: Gold coin donation encouraged
Pool Party by ZIC ZAC Festivals
A pool party at a local hotel with 8 hours of non-stop performances, DJs, food and pool access with an afterparty kicking off at XS Nightlife from 9pm.
Where: The Benson Hotel
When: Sunday 29 May, 12pm-8pm
Price: $20, tickets can be bought at eventbrite.
More Coverage
Originally published as Today in Cairns: A 59-year-old Mareeba man died following a single vehicle crash Friday afternoon
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