CityLife Magazine Second Quarter 2020

CityLife FEATURE
Mayor Bob Manning
Cairns Regional Council
1. Over the years what is the one
thing you have come to appreciate
about the city of Cairns?
Its natural beauty. The Reef, rainforest,
beaches, Atherton Tablelands and the
Cape, mangrove-lined inlets with an
abundance of fish, crabs and prawns – this
stuff cannot be seen together anywhere
else in the world as it is here.
2. The region has experienced
many tough times throughout the
years, but none quite like we are
experiencing now. What is one
message you would like to give to the
people of Cairns at this uncertain
time?
From the time Europeans first settled
Australia it has been tough. Droughts,
floods, fires, two horrible world wars, a
global depression and a number of smaller
conflicts such as Korea, Vietnam, and the
Middle East and Afghanistan. And yet
Australia soldiers on; it is truly a ‘gutsy’
country.
Today we stand together in meeting this
threat from coronavirus and in looking
after each other.
3. Leaders like yourself have united
to fight for the region in what are
unprecedented times – what role are
you and your organisation playing
in all of this?
Council has been very active in maintaining
strong relationships with the two senior
levels of Government (Federal and State)
and established a two-committee structure
to support this:
a) Economic Response &
Recovery Sub-Committee
b) Human & Social Sub-Committee
These two sub-committees are being
overseen by a Local Leadership
Committee comprising of myself, and the
local Federal and State members. This
structure has been working well and is
ensuring good co-ordination.
Council moved early to provide support
for residents and business, initially fast
tracking $2.4m in funding to TTNQ to
promote our region, providing $40,000
to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce
for a campaign to encourage residents to
spend locally and to give landlords a threemonth
extension on rate payments.
As the situation has developed, Council
endorsed another series of measures aimed
at helping business generate employment,
including the bringing forward of $2.5m
of maintenance works, reducing rent for
businesses leasing Council facilities and
providing a three month extension on a
range of business related-fees and charges.
Indications are positive that Cairns is
showing great discipline in maintaining
hygiene and social distancing, two key
elements of the strategy in defeating
coronavirus.
4. While there are many negatives
about the current situation, we all
find ourselves in – what is one thing
you are looking forward to doing
while in isolation?
We are all keen to see the defeat of this
virus and the return to normalcy. I know
that clichés sometimes drive people silly,
but when we do come out of this we will
all be stronger, and we will experience
the joy of having defeated that which so
disrupted our lives. I think a big barbecue
will be in order.
CityLife 14
Magazine