I've recently announced I'm running for a second term as Mayor of Cairns Regional Council. I know that the people of Cairns want jobs and a strong economy; they want Cairns to be the most liveable city in regional Australia, and they want a Council that can make tough decisions with the future in mind.

People said I must have been elated at the end of 2011 but perhaps my feelings were more of relief after more than three years of hard work. The critical approval of the Entertainment Precinct on 14 December has meant that we've gone ahead and advertised for a construction manager to enable us to spend the nearly $100 million of federal and state government money, create jobs, transform the waterfront and provide long overdue and much needed facilities.

Last year I initiated business lunches in each of the ten divisions to listen to small business people and find out ways in which Council might help them. An average of 9 businesses came to each lunch and that gave me a good sense of what the issues are. People were overwhelmingly in support

Sunday 30 October 2011

Canopy Artspace, 124 Grafton Street, Cairns

Viewing from 5:00pm; auction 6:00pm

Cash bar and complimentary finger food

This event is a fundraiser for Val Schier's campaign for the Cairns Regional Council election to be held in March 2012.

It's been gratifying to receive so much positive feedback on Council's resolution to make a $57M financial contribution to the $154M stage 1 of the entertainment precinct: a new 1100 seat theatre, rehearsal space, car parking, connection with the Convention Centre and the Cruise Liner terminal through White's Shed, extensive public spaces and landscaping. We needed to make this important decision to ensure we have a chance of spending the federal government's $40M contribution towards creating jobs – already extended by 12 months - by the due date of 30 June 2012. The loss of this funding would have meant that the whole project would have fallen over.