WED 07 JANUARY 2015

Mediaportal Report

BOARDING PASS01 Jan 2015Australian Gourmet Traveller, National , General News, Clive Dorman

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Skytrans fail to take flight06 Jan 2015Western Star, Roma QLD, General News

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Chance to seat history at home07 Jan 2015North West Star, Mount Isa QLD , General News

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All aboard for direct air travel07 Jan 2015Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton QLD , General News, Kerri-Anne Mesner

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Vital issues will affect city's future07 Jan 2015Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD, General News, Kathleen Skene

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COPYRIGHT This report and its contents are for the internal research use of Mediaportal subscribers only and may not beprovided to any third party by any means for any purpose without the express permission of iSentia and/or the relevantcopyright owner. For more information contact copyright@iSentia.com

DISCLAIMER iSentia uses multiple audience data sources for press, internet, TV and radio, including AGB Nielsen MediaResearch, Audit Bureau of Circulations, comScore, CSM Media Research, OzTAM, Nielsen, Research International andTNS. For general information purposes only. Any ASRs and audience figures are an estimate only and may be subject toerror or omission. iSentia makes no representations and, to the extent permitted by law, excludes all warranties in relationto the information contained in the report and is not liable for any losses, costs or expenses, resulting from any use ormisuse of the report.

SUMMER IS A CRACKER07 Jan 2015Daily Examiner, Grafton NSW, General News, Marco Magasic

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Skytrans in voluntary administration07 Jan 2015Australian Financial Review, Australia, Companies and Markets, Jamie Freed

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Ventures building hope07 Jan 2015Cairns Post, Cairns QLD, General News, Nick Dalton

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Reaction to the January Queensland state election poll has been mixed. Donna Gates, ...07 Jan 2015 7:33 AMABC News 24, Sydney, ABC News Breakfast, Michael Rowland, Virginia Trioli, and Paul Kennedy

Duration: 2 mins 3 secs • ASR AUD 25,761 • National • Australia • Issues Radio & TV • ID: M00060169009

Reaction to the January Queensland state election poll has been mixed. Donna Gates, Gold Coast Deputy Mayor says she thoughtthey would hold out until March or April to ensure they are there for the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Martin Winter, CEO GoldCoast Tourism says an election will not hurt tourism.

219,000 ALL112,000 MALE 16+99,000 FEMALE 16+

Interviewees

Donna Gates, Gold Coast Deputy Mayor|Martin Winter, CEO Gold Coast Tourism

Also broadcast from the following 22 stations

ABC (Hobart), ABC (Darwin), ABC (Sydney), ABC (Brisbane), ABC (Adelaide), ABC (Melbourne), ABC(Perth), ABC (Canberra), ABC (Regional Queensland), ABC (Regional Victoria), ABC (Regional NSW),ABC (Albany), ABC News 24 (Melbourne), ABC News 24 (Regional NSW), ABC News 24 (Brisbane),ABC News 24 (Adelaide), ABC News 24 (Perth), ABC News 24 (Regional Queensland), ABC News 24(Hobart), ABC News 24 (Canberra), ABC News 24 (Regional Victoria), ABC News 24 (Regional WestAustralia)

travelNEWS

The Virgin Australia Group promises new

foreign destinations for its flagship airline as well as low-cost subsidiary Tigerairthis year, with a possible Brisbane- or Sydney-to-Hong Kong route as well as another to Singapore on the drawing board.

Chief executive John Borghetti told an aviation conference recently there would be “two or three new Virgin routes to Asia in 2015” with final plans to be announced by February. He also said the “growth of the Tigerair Australia domestic fleet was likely to be

reduced”, given subdued consumer demand in the domestic market. Borghetti said the airline’s focus would be on international expansion and potential new short-haul destinations including Bali, Fiji, Phuket and New Zealand.

It’s back to the future for Virgin, which used the same strategy during the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 by reassigning several of its domestic 176-seat Boeing 737-800s to fly to Bali from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Happily, as it turned out for Aussie travellers, the GFC preceded the appreciation of the Australian dollar to better than parity with the US currency, meaning the price of shopping and accommodation in many foreign countries, including Indonesia, fell to record lows. Australians began leaving the country in record numbers, and travel to Bali, in particular, soared.

With the domestic travel industry now in a

downturn caused by a slowing economy, airlines are once again looking offshore for new places to fly their planes – even though the Aussie dollar is once again slipping back towards what many pundits see as its natural level, around US$0.70.

Virgin Australia waged a three-year capacity war with Qantas, during which it introduced its first Airbus A330-200 widebody jets on transcontinental services from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Perth. Now the airline has

B O A R D I N GPA S S

BY CLIVE DORMAN

run up the white flag – though it still believes the war was necessary to establish its domestic alternative to Qantas’s monopoly on premium-class travel.

The domestic air travel industry normally reports annual growth averaging around 6 per cent, but, in the year to last June it had slowed to just 1.2 per cent.

Virgin and Tigerair had already felt the repercussions of dumping thousands of below-cost

“The question many air travellers want answered is will Tigerair take over some or all of Virgin’s holiday routes.”

tickets onto the market: it’s great for travellers but disastrous for airlines. For Tigerair, especially, it has meant the need for a new strategy that avoids high numbers of empty seats flying around the country.

Tigerair is already in shrinking mode domestically, having cancelled loss-making services from Sydney and Melbourne to Alice Springs, and is now looking overseas for new routes.

Virgin’s deal in October to acquire the 40 per cent of Tigerair it didn’t already

own includes “brand rights [to be negotiated with Singapore’s Tiger Airways Holdings] to fly Tigerair Australia to a number of short-haul international destinations – providing new growth opportunities for the business”.

The question many air travellers want answered is will Tigerair take over some or all of Virgin’s holiday routes in the same way that Jetstar has taken over holiday routes from Qantas?

Borghetti won’t be drawn on the details of Tigerair’s new international play but reassures customers that Virgin Australia international routes won’t suddenly become Tigerair routes as happened in 2004 when Qantas vacated routes to and from the Gold Coast, for example, in favour of its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar (to the annoyance of some Qantas customers).

For consumers, this is significant with regard to Bali from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

If Virgin switched those services to Tigerair, it would likely experience a backlash from customers used to Virgin’s standard of service.

Borghetti also says that, despite Tigerair’s troubled image after its 2011 grounding by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for safety breaches, it will not be rebranded into a new Virgin identity. “We’re very happy with the Tigerair brand,” Borghetti told Boarding Pass. #

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Australian Gourmet Traveller, National01 Jan 2015, by Clive Dorman

General News, page 162 - 784.00 cm²Magazines Lifestyle - circulation 68,108 (Monthly)

ID 356808456 PAGE 1 of 1

IN BRIEF

Skytrans failto take flightCAIRNS-based airlineSkytrans, which trialled aroute in 2014 between Romaand Toowoomba, hasannounced they have shutdown. The company flew itslast passenger on Friday andit has since ceased trading.Skytrans managing directorSimon Wild listed the lowerAustralian dollar andincreased competition forcedtheir hand. All 121 staffmembers have been paid theirentitlements. The companyscrapped a route betweenRoma and Toowoomba lastyear due to a lack of interestfrom patrons.

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Western Star, Roma QLD06 Jan 2015

General News, page 4 - 36.00 cm²Regional - circulation 2,315 (-T--F--)

ID 358232490 PAGE 1 of 1

Chanceto seathistoryat homeHISTORY buffs, communitygroups and businesses willhave the opportunity to buy apiece of history withmemorabilia from KalkadoonPark up for grabs.

Mount Isa City Council iscurrently taking expressionsof interest from parties whomay like to own one or moreof the park’s iconic ferriswheel seats.

Kalkadoon Park was builtby the hands of the Mount Isacommunity from the spoils ofa mine site salvage yard, withthe generosity of civic-minded businesses.

Mayor Tony McGrady saidthat rather than demolishsuch a sentimental andhistorically rich site, councilis committed to giving thecommunity the opportunityto share in the memory ofKalkadoon Park.

“For 48 years KalkadoonPark was the home of IsaRodeo, the Mount Isa showand many other great events,”Cr McGrady said.

“Thousands of wonderfulmemories were made thereand to this day, the site stillrings with the spirit of rodeospast.”

In the past, mementos ofthis scale have beenpurchased by corporationsand relocated to becomepermanent reminders.

Most notably the BrisbaneSkyneedle, which wasconstructed especially forWorld Expo 88 and purchasedby popular hairdresser StefanAckerie.

After its purchase, Stefanthen relocated the Skyneedleto Stefan HQ at SouthBrisbane before adding thefirm’s signature rainbow ringslogo to the top of the tower.

“Unfortunately at this stagerelocating the Ferris wheelstructure as a whole is not anoption, but we are definitelyopen to discussions withanyone interested in such anendeavour,” Cr McGrady said.

Anyone interested in takinghome a piece of history cancontact the council on4747 3200 to make an offer.

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North West Star, Mount Isa QLD07 Jan 2015

General News, page 5 - 564.00 cm²Regional - circulation 2,375 (MTWTF--)

ID 358639480 PAGE 1 of 2

MAKE AN OFFER: Cr Kim Coghlan, chair of sport and beautification, and Mayor Tony McGrady knowthe ferris wheel at Kalkadoon Park has many memories for Mount Isans.

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North West Star, Mount Isa QLD07 Jan 2015

General News, page 5 - 564.00 cm²Regional - circulation 2,375 (MTWTF--)

ID 358639480 PAGE 2 of 2

ROCKY FLIGHTS: Please connect

All aboardfor directair travelKerri-AnneMesnerOnline editor

kerri-anne.mesner@capnews.com.au

ONLINE COMMENT

A READER asked The Bulletinto find out where otherreaders wanted direct flightsout of Rockhampton Airport,other than Brisbane.A post put on Facebookyesterday had received 250comments by 2pm, with acommon request of Sydney,Melbourne, Townsville andCairns.But there were many otherlocations, not just inAustralia, that readers wouldlike to have a direct flight to.We have created a pollonline from the responses forpeople to vote.Here are some of theresponses and discussion:

■ Laini Robinson –Townsville at a reasonableprice please! It’s cheaper tofly to Brisbane then up – howridiculous!

■ Kay Searles –Longreach , a lot of peoplefrom this district are sent toRockhampton for medicaltreatment. Also a lot ofchildren in schools in Rocky.

■ Patrice Kooistra – Gointernational. Rockhampton

to Japan■ Danny Williams – The

problem is Rocky had directflights to Melbourne andSydney in the past, but notenough people utilised theseservices. How do you expectairlines to keep unprofitableservices?

■ Chantelle Fraser –Every time I caught a directflight from Rocky toMelbourne, the plane waspacked. They were cheapflights and saves the hassleof waiting around orchanging planes in Brisbane.So many people used to usethe direct flights toMelbourne.

■ Paul A. Hoolihan –Dream on. Flights to restore

Rockhampton to its positionas a regional hub, Longreachand Central Queensland needflights.

■ Heather Eastwood –Melbourne, Townsville,Cairns, Sydney. Keep the costdown so people can actuallyafford to travel withinAustralia (without lengthystopovers!)

■ Elizabeth CullenHoolihan – Longreach viaEmerald?

■ Kathy Turnbull – Itwouldn’t be a direct flightthen.

■ Elizabeth Cullen

Hoolihan – No it wouldn't,but it makes sense to do thatand would probably be morefinancially viable.

■ Danny Williams – Thatwould be similar to the Mt Isato Townsville, via Cloncurryservice. It would work.

■ JA Passmore – Thatsort of service would needState Government support.We have not had a supportiveState Government in thisregion in 20 years.

■ Mandi Latcham –Melbourne, Sydney, Cairns,Townsville at least. Bit of awaste of tax payers’ money, inmillions $ worth of upgradesand paid parking, if we canonly go direct to Brissy. Weused to have Sydney,Melbourne and Cairns (beforethe upgrades). Even regionalareas have heaps more forFIFO. But then, they’re notlooking at providing servicesto benefit the localcommunities that actuallyreside in these areas.

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Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton QLD07 Jan 2015, by Kerri-Anne Mesner

General News, page 16 - 235.00 cm²Regional - circulation 12,373 (MTWTFS-)

ID 358576523 PAGE 1 of 1

Vital issueswill affect city’s future

KATHLEEN SKENE

GIMME 5WISH LIST 2015

FIVE key issues will dominateelection promises and com-mentary for Gold Coasters inthe next 24 days – but their im-pact on our city will last far be-yond election day.

The extension of the lightrail system, clarity over theWavebreak Island resort pro-posal, upgrade of the M1, com-mitment to anti-bikie laws andrenewed dedication to the 2018Commonwealth Games arecritical to the future of theGold Coast.

The Gold Coast Bulletin hascampaigned loudly on these is-sues and if there has ever beena time for sitting politiciansand their counterparts to listenand act it is now.

More than 550,000 passen-gers a month have used thenew Parkwood to Broadbeachlight rail service since it beganin July – more than 2.3 million

trips had been taken by the endof November.

A second stage of the sys-tem, linking it to the heavy railat Helensvale, has been plan-ned but not funded by theGovernment despite over-whelming support from thecommunity, business and –after encouragement from theGold Coast Bulletin – local MPs.

The connection wouldtransform the billion-dollarproject from a tourist con-venience to a viable and much-needed link between the GoldCoast and Brisbane.

Debate over the proposedcruise ship terminal, resort andcasino development at Wave-break Island has, in one formor another, been raging for thepast decade. Both sides of poli-

tics have used it to divide anddistract the community, butvoters still have no clue wheth-er or not a re-elected LNP gov-ernment would approve thecurrent proposal.

Clarity from each partyleader on this project would goa long way in the credibilitystakes with voters who ap-preciate knowing the repercus-sions of their actions at theballot box.

Few would deny the PacificMotorway between Brisbaneand the border is woefully in-adequate for what is the sec-ond-largest commuter road inthe country.

An upgrade of the confus-ing and congested exit 54 atCoomera would make the sub-urb safer and enable it to un-lock billions of dollars ofdevelopment potential and thejobs that would go with it.

It is hoped the Governmentwill make an announcementon the exit in the near future.

Duplication of some sec-

tions of the M1 near Logan,and more lanes through thesouthern Gold Coast nearReedy Creek, are badly neededto service the ever-expandingresident and tourist popu-lations.

Motorists will be forced towait more than a decade for analternative road as sections ofthe Pacific Motorway threatento reach gridlock by the 2018Commonwealth Games.

The LNP has previouslysaid a proposal to ease motor-way traffic from Helensvale toCoomera will not be sorteduntil at least 2020.

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Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD07 Jan 2015, by Kathleen Skene

General News, page 5 - 356.00 cm²Regional - circulation 31,017 (MTWTF--)

ID 358578025 PAGE 1 of 2

If Campbell Newman’s firstterm as Premier is remem-bered for anything by GoldCoasters, it will be for his effec-tive action to release the grip ofcriminal motorcycle gangs onour community.

Suggestions by any candi-dates or sitting members toweaken the laws that have ef-fectively freed the city from thebikie scourge will be harshlyviewed by voters.

The 2018 Games will cata-pult the Gold Coast to the cen-tre of the world stage – and arecent attorney-general’s re-port shows the city is not yeton the right track to make themost of this monumental mo-ment.

The next government – newor returned – must look at theGames with renewed vigourand a resolution to ensure boththe Games themselves, and thelegacy they leave the city, aredelivered flawlessly.

Over the next five days, theGold Coast Bulletin will take adetailed look at each of theseissues, and find out where yourcandidates and membersstand.

If there has ever been a time for

sitting politiciansand their

counterparts to listen and act

it is now

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Gold Coast Bulletin, Gold Coast QLD07 Jan 2015, by Kathleen Skene

General News, page 5 - 356.00 cm²Regional - circulation 31,017 (MTWTF--)

ID 358578025 PAGE 2 of 2

SUMMER ISA CRACKERYamba preferred to Byron Bay, Gold CoastMarco Magasicmarco.magasic@dailyexaminer.com.au

CLARENCE Valley busi-nesses are having a crack-ing summer season withtourists looking to the

Clarence Valley over By-ron Bay and the GoldCoast.Elders Real Estate Yam-ba principal Vikki See-kamp said January wassolidly booked for holiday

rentals.“February is about 60%booked, then it is a littlequieter in March, and thenwe pick up again in East-er,” she said.“There is an increase on

last year. “People aresaying people are cominghere instead of Gold Coastand Byron because thetraffic is more difficultthere.”Ms Seekamp said they

received some good presswith Yamba winning re-cent tourism awards.Yamba Chamber ofCommerce vice president

■ Continued: P4

Summer

Bev Mansfield said all theYamba businesses werevery busy.“It’s more settled now,people can find a park,” MrsMansfield said.“Last year it went righton until the end of January,so hopefully it will be thesame this year.I Scream owner JeffSmith said he received a lotof tourists in Grafton aswell.“December and Januaryare some of our best times,”Mr Smith said.He said December, 2014was up 15% from 2013 withJanuary looking on par withlast year, one week in.“We had to get a fewextra shipments in Decem-ber,” he said.“We got into a couple ofdown river events as well.We got the van to the Mac-Markets and Yamba Twi-

season acracker■ From: P1

light Markets.“There was a good feelingat both; they were wellorganised and there wereplenty of happy people.”Mr Smith said the crowdswere changing as the holi-days went on.As the tourists weregoing home, locals werereturning and taking theirplace in the line.“Nights have been partic-ularly good. We are benefit-ing from movies and restau-rants.“Any place that staysopen does well.”

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Daily Examiner, Grafton NSW07 Jan 2015, by Marco Magasic

General News, page 1 - 319.00 cm²Regional - circulation 4,264 (MTWTFS-)

ID 358506743 PAGE 1 of 1

Skytrans in voluntary administrationJamie Freed

Cairns-based regional airline Skytrans,which abruptly stopped all services lastFriday, has entered voluntary adminis-tration as it seeks to wind down thebusinessman orderly fashion.

Former managing director SimonWild has stepped away from managingthe business in favour of administra-tors William John Fletcher and TracyLee Knight of Bentleys CharteredAccountants. A formal notice will beissued to creditors later this week.

Mr Wild said the business was nowin the hands of the administrators andhe was unable to comment on whetherall creditors would be repaid in full.

"The administrator has to lookthrough that assessment," he told TheAustralian Financial Review on Tues-day. He said administrators had beenappointed because his expertise wasin managing an airline rather thanwinding one down.

The airline has already paid out allof its employee entitlements and hasset aside $2 million for refunding creditcard customers. Mr Wild said the com-pany had more than $5 million of cashat the start of last week, before payingout $2 million in employee entitlementsand earmarking another $2 million forcredit card customers.

Skytrans ceased all of its operationson Friday. Mr Wild said the businesshad more assets than liabilities whenadministrators were appointed onMonday and that it had not tradedinsolvently. The administratorsdeclined tocomment on Tuesday.

Creditors could include fuel supp-

liers and airports that were due to issueinvoices to Skytrans. "There will bepeople who have accounts for Decem-ber," Mr Wild said. "Once you haveceased to trade there will be bits andpieces to come through."

Skytrans decided to close after losingthree regulated routes to rival RegionalExpress Airlines in a Queensland ten-der last October. Rex began flying thoseroutes on January 1.

Skytrans's decision to close has leftsome communities in Cape York with-out regular'air services during the wetseason, but Rex plans to step in to coversome of the flights and West Wing Avia-tion is also reportedly looking to do so.

Skytrans had also conducted somecharter work for the resources indus-try, but Mr Wild said much of that haddried up, in a move that made businessconditions particularly tough after itlost the regulated routes.

Alliance Aviation Services issued aprofit warning last month, in part dueto weakness in the resources sector.

Larger operators such as Qan-tasLink, Virgin Australia Regional Air-lines and Cobham Aviation ServicesAustralia have been aggressivelychasing business from mining and oiland gas companies.

Two other regional airlines, Brinda-bella Airlines and Vincent Aviation,have shut in the last 13 months.

Skytrans's 2013-14 accounts havenot been filed with the corporate regu-lator, with the company having appliedfor relief from doing so in October.

Earlier that month, the FinancialReview revealed that the latest accountsfor Skytrans Holdings filed with the cor-

porate regulator for 2012-13 showedthe airline had breached its bankingcovenants and had just $74,209 cash onhand by June 2013.

Later that month, Skytrans filed forrelief from the corporate regulatorfrom posting its 2013-14 accounts.

However, Mr Wild said the airline'sfinancial position was fine in Octoberafter it sold off aircraft to retire all the$18.7 million of secured debt formerlyheld by National Australia Bank andCommonwealth Bank of Australia.

"We sold off some surplus aircraftwe didn't need because the market hadcontracted," he said at the time. "Wehave gone down from 15 aircraft to eightand retired all of our debt"

The airline has paidout all of its employeeentitlements and hasset aside $2 millionfor refunding creditcard customers.

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Australian Financial Review, Australia07 Jan 2015, by Jamie Freed

Companies and Markets, page 17 - 397.00 cm²National - circulation 62,455 (MTWTFS)

ID 358573396 PAGE 1 of 2

Wings clipped... Skytrans decided to close after losing three regulated routes to rival airline Regional Express last October.

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Australian Financial Review, Australia07 Jan 2015, by Jamie Freed

Companies and Markets, page 17 - 397.00 cm²National - circulation 62,455 (MTWTFS)

ID 358573396 PAGE 2 of 2

Ventures building hopeProjects worth $22 billion have the potential to turn around the Far North’s economy, writes NICK DALTON in his year end business reviewMORE than $22 billion ofmajor private and public pro-jects have the potential to turnaround the Far North’s boom-bust economy this year.

Some will start this yearwhile others are still in theplanning, approval or capital-raising stages.

At the top of the list is the“on-again, off-again” $8.15 bil-lion Aquis mega-resort whichinches towards reality but isnot quite there yet.

Its Integrated Resort Devel-opment application still needsto be approved by the StateGovernment, including a gam-ing licence and associatedprobity investigations, CairnsRegional Council develop-ment approval and finance.

Tony Fung’s $6 million ac-quisition of the Canberra ca-sino is seen as crucial in hisfundraising efforts.

It will require all of thisyear’s trading, including a $40million-plus upgrade, so it andAquis can be listed on theHong Kong Stock Exchangenext year to start raising thenecessary billions for the Yor-keys Knob venture.

Other high-level projectsinclude a $1.97 billion large-scale 50,000ha farm at Ethe-ridge; the 20-year $1 billionCairns Airport redevelopment;the $1.45 billion Rio TintoAlcan bauxite mine expansionsouth of Embley; and the $1.4billion Ella Bay resort nearInnisfail.

Private projects total $19.71billion, State Government

works of $730 million, FederalGovernment projects of $1.05billion and local government

works of $240 million.The first two towers of the

seven tower $400 million As-pial Singaporean project inSpence St are on target to startbefore July 1.

The $50 million CairnsAquarium should start soonwith the main contractor and adate to be announced in aweek or so. Work on the $453million Cairns Hospital rede-velopment continues.

It is hoped the $200 millionBotanica Property Group’s in-tegrated residential precinct atCaravonica, including 1000homes, will start this year.

The first stage of Satterley’s$500 million 2500 lot Mt Peterresidential subdivision willstart this year.

The $25 million secondstage of the Cairns Home-maker Centre at Portsmith isnearly finished and the $32million Bunnings Warehouseopposite is well under way.

On hold are the $400 mil-lion Mt Emerald wind farmand the $45 million Cairns Ad-venture Waters Project while astart on the redevelopment ofthe Sheraton Mirage PortDouglas Resort is uncertain.

Cairns Chamber of Com-merce chief executive DebHancock said the chamber es-timated $18.3 billion of pro-jects. The Department of StateDevelopment, Infrastructureand Planning’s list totals $22billion.

Ms Hancock said therewere additional projects thatwere proposed but, due to theircommercially sensitive andconfidential nature, were not

included.“Additionally, these pro-

jects are expected to contribute17,743 jobs during constructionand 36,146 operationally withsome projects yet to determinethe number of jobs to be creat-ed,” she said.

She said at the end of lastyear, projects worth $87.1 mil-lion, and which employed 390construction and operationalstaff, were finished.

“Our region is an invest-ment mecca because we have a

24-hour, seven-day curfew freeinternational airport, an econ-omy worth $12 billion, a re-gional population of nearly245,000 (which now makes usthe largest region outside ofsoutheast Queensland),” MsHancock said.

“We have an economygrowing by 3 per cent a year,exports of $6.9 billion a yearand more than 23,400 regis-tered businesses employing117,000 people.”

Urban Development Insti-tute of Australia Cairns branchchairman Adam Gowlett saidAspial’s Central Park develop-ment was an example of shov-el-ready projects needed to

start employing local tradespeople and suppliers.

He said there were severalresidential projects under way,such as Smithfield Village sta-ges 31A, 18, 23, and bulk earth-works, extension of SmithfieldVillage Drive and a new park,Bluewater, Northpoint Stages7 and 8, Panguna Valley,Springbrook Estate, RedlynchCentral, Mt Sheridan, Sugar-world Estate and RiverstoneHills.

“While new home construc-tion has improved substan-tially, Cairns is building onlyabout two-thirds of its long-

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD07 Jan 2015, by Nick Dalton

General News, page 22 - 941.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 358551611 PAGE 1 of 3

term needs, so our communitystill needs that added confi-

dence to be out there buyingand building new homes to re-ally help stimulate the con-struction and developmentsectors,” he said.

“Aspial’s cranes on the sky-line might be just the ticketCairns needs to give the com-munity that security thatthings really are on the up.”

THE TOP 10 MAJOR PROJECTS1. $8.15 billion Aquis mega-resort, Yorkeys Knob2. $1.97 billion Integrated Food and Energy project, Etheridge3. $1.45 billion Rio Tinto’s South of Embley bauxite mine,Weipa4. $1.4 billion Ella Bay resort, Innisfail5. $1 billion Cairns Airport redevelopment6. $600 million Metallica Minerals’ SCONI project, Greenvale7. $500 million tropical bio-processing plant, Ingham8. $500 million Wongai coal mine, Cooktown9. $453 million Cairns Hospital redevelopment10= $400 million Mt Emerald wind farm, Mareeba10= $400 million Pisolite Hills bauxite mine, Weipa10= $400 million Pregno family business park, Edmonton10= $400 million Bruce Highway upgrade, south of Cairns Source: Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning

INSPIRATION: Aspial Corporation’s development in Spence St can spark a building revival.

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD07 Jan 2015, by Nick Dalton

General News, page 22 - 941.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 358551611 PAGE 2 of 3

ARTISTS’ IMPRESSIONS: The Botanica residential development, the Cairns Aquarium and the grand lobby of the Aquis casino with Aboriginal designs on the floor and an aquarium at the rear.

AQUIS ASPIRATION: An aerial view of the planned $8.15 billion Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort at Yorkeys Knob tops the list of impressive projects in the pipeline.

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Cairns Post, Cairns QLD07 Jan 2015, by Nick Dalton

General News, page 22 - 941.00 cm²Regional - circulation 18,262 (MTWTF--)

ID 358551611 PAGE 3 of 3