Mayor Whitney embraces new role

Challenging, exciting, daunting with a hell of a lot of obstacles in the way. That’s how the Whitsunday’s first female mayor describes her first month in the top job.

"It hasn’t even been a month! But it has been totally enjoyable. Obviously there are people putting obstacles up out there but I don’t see them as obstacles … instead I grab hold of them and use them as a learning curve," said Mayor Jennifer Whitney.

Having many years’ experience in local government, including three terms as a councillor, the mayor says her role is a lot more "hands on" than she thought and was pleasantly surprised so many people wanted to actually speak with the mayor.

During the past four weeks, Mayor Whitney has been meeting with delegates from mining and rail companies, receiving updates on all the major developments projected for the Whitsunday region.

Council meets in Proserpine on Wednesday, June 13 where it is expected the mayor will hand out a portfolio to each of the councillors.

"This is a whole different style of government and I hope people embrace it and move with us. These portfolios will challenge the councillors in a way we mightn’t have been challenged before. They won’t necessarily be in their comfort zone but the community has an expectation that we as paid councillors work for our money. I am not saying we haven’t done this in the past, but we will now be accountable," she said.

The mayor also touched on boat ramps, the controversial block of land Havengrand and de-amalgamation.

"We need an all-weather place for our boaties. We are such a huge boating area "Our registrations prove this but at the moment we have no pontoon at VMR which the boaties want. I believe the rock wall study is almost finalised so we will be looking at that shortly but at the moment the best option is getting Port of Airlie boat ramp up and running as soon as possible," she said.

The mayor touched on Havengrand saying it simply hadn’t been discussed yet by the new council but the matter would be put on the agenda with a view to leasing it out.

"It wouldn’t be viable at the moment to sell it, because we paid far too much for it in the first place ... but at least we should look at leasing it out. By having someone on the land it will help with the maintenance," she said.

And finally de-amalgamation.

"There has been the rumour of de-amalgamation but the decision will come down to the minister and any area that wants to de-amalgamate will have to prove it is able to support itself.

"The people in Collinsville haven’t even given this new council a chance."

Mayor Whitney met with the Guardian in her Proserpine office on Monday morning.

"There has to be an acceptance by management that I am the mayor, and that we need to go on this journey together, to create change for the betterment of the community, for the whole region. I have been voted in to bring about that change.

"This means the region wants a change to the way we do business … which means more consultation, better communication and a more open and accountable council," Mayor Whitney said.

Port of Airlie boat ramp open for Easter in the Whitsundays

The mud’s been cleared away and the surface has been washed down.

Port of Airlie’s long awaited boat ramp is now open to the public temporarily.

The $750,000 boat ramp and car park is yet to be fully completed, but will be opened temporarily to compensate for the closure of the Cannonvale Boat Ramp which is undergoing upgrade works.

"There’s strong demand from boaties in the area and at this time of year it is particularly useful to have this facility," said Mayor Brunker.

"All necessary works have now been completed to temporarily enable the car park area and the boat ramp to be safely used by the community."

"It will be totally completed and handed over later in the year, but it is a great result to get access for the next few months."

Fishing advocate Bob Spees was on site to inspect the temporary ramp and questioned the mayor over a number of concerns.

"Mike, this is great because it’s now ready for the Easter school holidays … but what happens after? Why can’t this stay open while the government is doing the repairs to the Abel Point Marina?

Mayor Brunker said that by the time the Port of Airlie boat ramp was due to close again it was hoped that the Cannonvale boat ramp should be finished.

"There’s no guarantees, but the opening of this facility at least covers the next few months and work will be progressing on Cannonvale in that time," he said.

Whitsunday Boat and Lifestyle Show draws crowds

 The Whitsunday Boat and Lifestyle Show was declared a great success by the vast majority of organisers, exhibitors and attendees who participated in the weekend-long event.

 Rotary President Alan Robinson confirmed that in spite of tough economic times the show had proven itself financially viable, with a small excess to be returned to the community.

 “I believe we’ve covered costs and I believe there’ll be a small surplus which will go back to the community,” he said.

 Mr Robinson said in all he was “very happy” with the event, and particularly the new Port of Airlie site.

 “It’s close to the water, you’ve got sea views, it’s more visitor friendly and there’s more things for people to do,” he said.

 Mr Robinson said he felt the show had been well attended and was also “good for the town”.

 “It’s been a huge effort by the Rotarians and we’d like to thank each and every one of them,” Mr Robinson said.

 The show was a mix of on and off water displays, presentations, family activities and even helicopter joy flights and a seafood festival, to round things off.

 Kev Collins, who organised the seafood festival in collaboration with other organisations such as Whitsunday Food Services, said it had “added another element that I think has been appreciated”.

 “We’ve fed well over 1,000 people in the two days and it’s gone really smoothly,” he said.

 Media Liaison officer John Nayler said exhibitors had reported achieving new leads, “and not surprisingly they’re from the mining sector”.

 “That’s evidence to us that we’ve done our job and brought people to town,” Mr Nayler said.

Receivers move in on Airlie Beach

Whitsunday residents and visitors to the region can expect “business as usual” at Meridien’s Abel Point Marina, in spite of the announcement that receivers McGrathNicol were appointed on Thursday afternoon. The announcement comes less than a fortnight after Meridien’s other Whitsunday development – the Port of Airlie project – was also placed into administration.

 At the time Port of Airlie hit the headlines, Meridien’s Managing Director Russell McCart was quoted as saying the group’s other holdings would be unaffected, but Whitsundays’ Mayor Mike Brunker says it was his understanding they were inextricably linked.

 “They’re the same company, but in saying that it’s business as usual down there I believe,” Mayor Brunker said.

 “The receivers have said they’re going to spend some money down at Port of Airlie to tidy things up but you wouldn’t expect them to spend too much. At the end of the day we’ll have to wait until a new owner is sourced for there to be any chance to move ahead,” he said.

 Jamie Harris, a partner of the Brisbane office of McGrathNicol, confirmed the company had met with management and staff at the marinas and looked forward to working with them “to continue the operations of these significant providers of marine services and storage facilities”.

  “We understand that tenants and the owners of boats stored and maintained at the marinas have placed significant trust in the businesses.  We will provide further information to each of them over the next few days regarding ongoing operations and look forward to working with management and staff to continue to provide excellent facilities and services,” Mr Harris said.

 Meridien’s Managing Director Mr Russell McCart said the marina at Abel Point was an excellent asset, had a great future and would continue to trade very well.

 “The receivers have re-employed all marina staff and will continue to operate as usual without disruption,” he said.

 Whitsunday MP and Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt said she was seeking a meeting with the administrators/receivers but in the interim she didn’t expect residents or visitors to notice a visible change.

 “Having an administrator in charge is a serious issue, however they (the receivers) have undertaken to continue to allow businesses connected with each of those projects to operate, both now and into the future. I doubt that people will notice a practical difference,” she said.

As for the future, Ms Jarratt said it was her understanding the receivers would be “looking for an investor to come in and take over those businesses as going concerns”.

 “That would be the best outcome for everyone,” she said.

 With approximately 500 berths Abel Point Marina is the largest on the North Queensland coast. The Guardian understands it was purchased by Meridien for $73million in 2006.

 Photo courtesy Justin Heitman

Port of Airlie celebrates opening of Boathaven Beach

 Whitsunday residents have a new beach. Port of Airlie’s manmade, all-tide, stinger-netted swimming beach was officially opened to the public last weekend with a formal ceremony on Friday July 8 marking the event.

 Member for Whitsunday and Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt was on hand with Mayor Mike Brunker and Meridien Managing Director Russell McCart to cut the red ribbon and declare the beach a public domain.

 Ms Jarratt said she was delighted to open the Whitsunday’s newest tourist attraction, which would undoubtedly prove popular with visitors and locals alike.

 “I think it is also a symbol of our hope for the future. The completion of phase one at Port of Airlie is cause for celebration,” Ms Jarratt said.

 Mayor Mike Brunker said this was a massive investment in the local economy by Meridien and a huge boost to business confidence.

 “The Whitsunday Regional Council is delighted to see a first class beach being created here in the heart of the Whitsundays.

 “As one of the country’s leading property developers, Meridien has demonstrated confidence and a strong commitment in Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays Region by investing here and creating this unique location. This is despite the economic climate the country continues to face following the Global Financial Crisis,” he said.

 In a broadcast interview, Meridien’s Russell McCart described the beach-opening as a “milestone event”.

 “We think it’ll play its part… in reinvigorating this part of the world,” he said (of the Port of Airlie project as a whole).

 Local resident Mary Bicanic was one of the first to visit the beach last weekend.

 “It’s fabulous. It’s going to be a nice place to take the kids,” she said.