Page 48 - Tropic Magazine Issue 16

INDUSTRY • FEATURE

21 Bar scene 24 Commonwealth Games 27 More tourism

evolving
companies to be sold
comes to Cairns
The lads A section of the Cairns Esplanade was The flurry of acquisitions continued
of Three transformed into a Commonwealth in 2018, led by two local companies.
Wolves, with Games party zone in April, with the Experience Co added its eighth
a business road closed to traffic to allow for North Queensland brand in two
partner, musical acts, fireworks and family fun. years, launching Dreamtime Dive &
expanded The initiative was such a success, it led Snorkel. CaPTA Group also continued
their reach to calls for a permanent closure of the it’s expansion purchasing Coral Reef
in Cairns in 2018 by opening Flamingos Esplanade to create a dining precinct, Coaches and Wooroonooran Safaris.
Tiki Bar on the Esplanade. The opening which the Council is now considering
of Riley’s Resort also brought Cairns’ as part of its CBD masterplan.
highest rooftop bar called Rocco, at 28 Multi-million-dollar
the top of the hotel’s iconic tower. renovation of CoCA
Cairns also welcomed Esters wine
and cocktail bar at The Chambers, an The Centre of Contemporary
intimate setting with a huge choice of Arts closed in September for the
revitalisation and will re-open in
over 300 spirits, exceptional cocktails,
beer and wines. mid-2019. The new design includes the
expansion of the ground floor building
and a full-length verandah on the first
22 Cathay celebrates 25 floor. That means the jelly babies might
have to find a new spot! There are
years servicing Cairns
and a garden, so they might be among
Cathay Pacific did indeed celebrate 25 however, also plans for a laneway café
years of direct flights between Cairns choices for the babies’ new home.
and Hong Kong, during which time
it’s carried an estimated 1.6million
passengers and 70,000 tonnes of 29 Reef To Reef
freight. Cathay will continue to operate mountain bike event
three services per week in 2019. 25 The inaugural Reef to Reef stage race
from Smithfield to Port Douglas was
CQUniversity’s Professional declared as epic by riders. Entries are
Sports Centre of Excellence to already open for the 2019 event, to be
open held on August 8-11th.
CQUniversity’s new high-tech Exercise
and Sport Sciences laboratories 30 On-site student
were officially opened at the Cairns accommodation at JCU
Basketball headquarters in October.
The space incorporates the latest Students moved into JCU’s new digs
biomechanics and physiology last February. Work on JCU’s $30
technologies to help students and million Cairns Innovation Centre is
scientists deliver training and research now starting and is scheduled to be
alongside elite athletes, including the completed in February 2020.
Cairns Taipans.
23 Council’s Courthouse
plans to be revealed
The blueprint for the upgrade of the 26 Wangetti Trail enters
funding stage
old Courthouse was released late
in 2018, and include a great hall, Engineering designs for the
restaurant or café and rooms for retail 76-kilometre Wangetti trail were
and admin, as well as a decluttering completed in 2018, as part of the
of the garden area. The Council wants business case. Traditional owners
the Courthouse to be the centrepiece have expressed their support, while
of a gallery precinct, linking it with the State
the art gallery and an upgraded Government
former Council office. The Federal is seeking
Government has rejecting funding expressions
one-third of the $40 million price of interest for
tag but that could all change in 2019, accommodation
ahead of the Federal Election. nodes along the
trail. Construction
is now slated for
2020/2021.
48 • Tropic • Issue 16