THE SCOOP: November
November 29 2013
Dengue case confirmed at Port Douglas school
11.15am Health authorities have confirmed a new case of dengue fever and three suspected cases are all linked to Port Douglas State School.
Doctor Richard Gair from the Cairns Tropical Public Health Unit told the ABC the confirmed case is an adult, and authorities have sprayed insecticide around the school and removed potential mosquito breeding sites.
As the ABC reported, Dr Gair urged parents to be be on alert for symptoms of the mosquito-borne virus, and to contact a doctor immediately if they or their child suffer "headache, fever, aches and pains, lethargy [or] rash."
An outbreak was declared in the area at the start of November, with four earlier cases in Miallo and one in Port Douglas.
Residents are urged to take precautions, including using repellant and clearing up possible breeding sites around the home.
Meanwhile, FIFA World Cup organisers have been warned of a dengue risk at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. A leading infectious diseases expert said there's a high risk at matches played in three northeast cities, Fortaleza, Natal and Salvador.
November 29 2013
Lucky escape from sinking boat
10.58am Two Cooktown men had a lucky escape last night after their boat sank two nautical miles east of the Two Islands group, north east of Cooktown.
The alarm was raised shortly before 7pm after their boat began to take on water.
A search and rescue rescued the pair from the roof of the sinking vessel shortly before 8.30pm. They were in good health and uninjured and were transported back to Cooktown.
November 28 2013
Chamber to host Xmas networking
11.00am Residents and business owners will have a chance to meet the new Douglas Shire councillors and mayor at a festive networking function next Wednesday at the Court House Hotel.
Hosted by the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, the evening at the Sunset Lounge from 5.30pm, will be a chance for the new councillors to meet the Port Douglas business community, according to Chamber president, Phoebe Kitto.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the business community to meet with the new councillors,” she said.
“It is important that as a community we work together in 2014 and that the councillors understand the challenges and aspirations of local businesses.
“We look forward to a strong representation from both Mossman and Port Douglas at this event.”
If you’re interested in attending, please RSVP the Chamber by 2nd of December by emailing secretary@pdcc.com.au or phone 0418 738 168.
November 27 2013
Witnesses sought to Beaches road-rage incident
4.13pm Smithfield police are seeking witnesses to a road-rage incident involving two silver cars that happened on the Captain Cook Highway at around 11.35am on Monday, November 25.
According to police, early information suggests that two male drivers became involved in an on-road dispute, which resulted in both cars allegedly being driven erratically in the north-bound lanes of the Captain Cook Highway between Kewarra and Clifton Beaches.
Anumber of other motorists were seen to undertake defensive driving actions as a result.
The silver cars crashed on a number of occasions, with the incident ending in Endeavour Road. Both cars had major damage and required towing.
Anyone who either witnessed the incidents or has any related information is urged to contact Constable Adam Petersen at Smithfield Police station on 40571900. Reference # QP1301466817
November 27 2013
Mayor commemorates amalgamated council
1.50pm Cairns Regional Council met for the final time in Mossman today, ahead of the re-establishment of the Douglas Shire Council on January 1.
Mayor Bob Manning acknowledged the occasion by presenting a plaque to outgoing Division 10 Councillor and incoming Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu, commemorating the amalgamated council.
Just two meetings of CRC remain this year, with Ordinary Meetings to be held in Cairns on December 11 and December 18.
Meanwhile, speed limits in the Cairns CBD will remain unchanged.
A proposal was put to Council in July to consider the reduction of the traffic speed limit in the city centre from 50km/h to 40km/h, based on supporting technical data.
The plan was scrapped after community consultation reflected major public opposition.
November 26 2013
Final CRC meeting in Mossman tomorrow
1.20pm Cairns Regional Council will meet in Mossman for the final time tomorrow ahead of the new Douglas Shire’s reign from January 1.
During the Ordinary Meeting of Council at Mossman Administration Building, Cairns Mayor Bob Manning will acknowledge the impending re-establishment of the Douglas Shire Council with a presentation to outgoing Division 10 Councillor Julia Leu.
“I’ll be taking the opportunity to wish Cr Leu all the best as the incoming Mayor of the Douglas Shire and to thank the staff who have contributed so much to the region during the past six years,” Cr Manning said.
The Ordinary Meeting will be held at the Front Street building from 10am. All members of the public are invited to attend.
There will be no further Cairn Regional Council committee meetings held this year, with Ordinary Meetings to be held on December 11 and 18.
November 25 2013
Man escapes injury on Michaelmas Reef
1.20pm A 56-year-old Yorkey’s Knob man who went missing yesterday at Michaelmas Reef trying to watch coral spawning has been lucky to escape injury.
Cairns Police say information was received at around 10pm last night that a man had failed to return to a vessel after going diving at around 7.40pm at Michaelmas Reef, midway between Port Douglas and Palm Cove.
Search and rescue teams were activated, with the rescue helicopter crew spotting the missing man in the water about 800 metres from the vessel.
People who had been on the boat with the man were alerted by authorities of the man’s position, where they assisted him back on board.
The man stated that he had entered the water to view coral spawning when he had become disorientated and lost sight of the vessel.
November 20 2013
Body found at Roaring Meg Falls
9.30am Police divers found a body at Roaring Meg Falls yesterday afternoon, believed to be possibly that of a 41-year-old woman who went missing after being swept over the falls near Wujul Wujul on Sunday afternoon.
A Queensland Police Dive Squad team located and recovered the body shortly after 4pm yesterday.
Formal identification procedures are presently underway and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
November 20 2013
Port's dengue case is #5 for FNQ
7.00am Queensland Health confirmed a case of dengue fever in Port Douglas yesterday.
According to an ABC News report, it's the Far North's fifth case of the infectious, mosquito-borne virus so far this month, with the four earlier ones occuring in Miallo, near Mossman.
As ABC reported, Port Douglas residents are being urged to take precautions, including using repellant and clearing up possible breeding sites around the home.
November 19 2013
Serious car crash, Mossman-Daintree Road
UPDATE 11.30am Police investigations are continuing into a two-car crash on the Mossman-Daintree Road yesterday afternoon.
A utility driven by a 70-year-old Mossman man and a hatchback driven by a 65-year-old male tourist collided head on about five kilometres north of the Daintree ferry turn-off.
The tourist and his 54-year-old wife were airlifted to the Cairns Hospital where they remain in a stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The other man was treated at the Mossman Hospital and discharged.
8.50am Two cars were involved in a serious crash on the Mossman - Daintree Road at about 5.30pm last night.
Police were at the scene, and reported one person was flown to Cairns Base Hospital yesterday evening with serious injuries, while another person was taken to the Mossman Hospital with unknown injuries.
Just before 9pm last night, Police reported the Mossman – Daintree Road was closed to all traffic north of the Daintree Ferry turnoff, and urged motorists to seek an alternate route.
There is no further information at this time. Updates will be reported as information becomes available.
November 18 2013
Search for missing woman continues
UPDATE 9.50am Police have released more information on a missing woman, the subject of search and rescue operations near Roaring Meg Falls, north of Port Douglas.
Police continued their search this morning for the woman, a 41 year-old Dutch foreign national.
Initial information suggests the woman lost her footing and fell about 100m down the falls, located near the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal, around 12.30pm yesterday.
Police divers are expected to arrive today to assist with the search.
8.40am Police will continue search and rescue efforts for a woman at Roaring Meg Falls near Wujal Wujal, in the state's north.
Around 12:30pm on Sunday, a woman was at the Roaring Meg Falls and has lost her footing and fallen down the edge of the falls. Police searched yesterday afternoon, but suspended the search during the evening. They will resume today.
Investigations are continuing.
November 15 2013
Kuranda Range closed
UPDATE 12.59pm The Kuranda Range has re-opened to one lane only and it's expected to remain this way till about 3pm while the crash site is cleared.
All motorists are urged to delay travel on the Kuranda Range as lengthy delays are expected for the next few hours.
11.30am Kuranda Range is closed to traffic after a car and semi trailer crashed on the Kennedy Highway about half way up the Range at about 10.30am today.
The Kuranda Range will likely be closed to traffic for some time. All motorists are urged to avoid travel on the Kuranda Range due to the expected lengthy delay in re-opening the highway.
Motorists can make alternate arrangements for travel on either the Mossman Mt Molloy Road via Rex Range, The Gillies Highway at Gordonvale or the Palmerston Highway at Innisfail dependant on their destination.
November 14 2013
Thieves make off with outdoor furniture
12.20pm Police are currently investigating after outdoor furtniture was stolen from a Williams Esplanade Villa in Palm Cove sometime between November 1 and November 5.
No property was reported stolen from inside the villa, but the thieves got away with a timber table, steel chairs, timber sun lounges and designer lanterns.
November 11 2013
Councillors yet to be declared
12.40pm The new Douglas Shire Councillors are yet to be officially declared, with postal votes a possible factor in calling the close race.
The ECQ told The Newsport today that their most recent figure - 79.35 per cent of the electoral roll counted, updated at 11.12am today - "will increase marginally based on the number of postal votes yet to be returned and counted."
The ECQ has classified 384 votes as ' postal, special postal, and unenrolled' in the Douglas Shire. The postal votes remain outstanding, with their return accepted until November 19 - ten days after polling day.
Four candidates will take up Councillor positions, and though Abigail Noli, David Carey and Bruce Clarke's positions look unlikely to change, just 40 votes separate Terry Melchert, currently placed fourth on 1656, and Sylvia Healy's 1616.
Julia Leu was announced as the new Douglas Shire Mayor yesterday, attracting almost 60 per cent of the Mayoral vote.
November 11 2013
Mossman man charged with rape
9.00am Mossman detectives have charged a 30-year-old local man with unlawful wounding and rape following the alleged sexual assault of a woman at Mossman yesterday, November 10.
It will be alleged a man entered a Mossman residence where he confronted a 30-year-old woman early yesterday afternoon.
During a violent struggle the woman sustained a deep laceration to her arm and bruising and swelling to her face.
The man is due to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this morning charged with six offences including unlawful wounding, rape, burglary, enter dwelling with intent whilst armed and two counts of assault with intent to rape.
The woman received treatment in hospital for serious but non life threatening injuries.
November 7 2013
Schoolgirl escapes serious injury
11.30am A primary school-aged girl on a bicycle escaped serious injury in a collision with a car in Port Douglas this morning, November 7.
A Newsport reader witnessed the incident at the intersection of Ruby Close and St Crispin’s Avenue, and said the car was turning left out of Ruby Close, while the girl was riding on St Crispin’s Avenue along the shared footpath cycle way, on her way to school.
The witness said the bicycle was crushed under the car’s right wheel, but the girl fortunately fell clear. She was taken by ambulance for medical attention.
More information will be reported as it becomes available.
November 5 2013
Fiorente wins 2013 Melbourne Cup
3.30pm The Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente claimed victory in today's Melbourne Cup at Flemington, ahead of Red Cadeaux and Mount Athos.
Fiorente's triumph in the 3200m handicap event handed Waterhouse her first Melbourne Cup, and the first for an Australian female trainer.
Damian Oliver can boast his third time riding a Cup winner; a welcome turnaround for the jockey after an eight-month suspension last year for an illegal bet on a rival horse, and a further two-month ban for using a mobile phone in a prohibited area.
An estimated 100,000 spectators packed Flemington Racecourse to watch the $7 favourite seal the win by three-quarters of a length.
Tomorrow on The Newsport: Contributor Rosie Wang's shares some highlights from all the Melbourne Cup action around Port Douglas.