AROUND THE TRAPS: Stagnant hospital blocks not good enough, Mossman Bowls undergoing huge refurbs

BILL ALLISON COLUMN

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Bill Allison believes there is a way to ensure shade sails can remain up all year at local playgrounds. Picture: Bill Allison

*Welcome to a new column from well known Mossman resident Bill Allison. Bill will provide information, insights, updates, comment and opinions on issues and matters involving all things Douglas Shire. 

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Children's Playgrounds - Shade sails 

Children playgrounds in the Shire have had the shade sails taken down from at least early December.

Yes, they need to be taken down when a cyclone is on it’s way, but that happened four months ago!

When I phoned Council they said they would be putting them back up at the end of April.

The way the sails are currently secured is by tying them to poles and untying them to take them down - a very time consuming method.

A better solution is to attach small hand winches to the poles with hooks that can be detached from the sails, they'll then much easier to take down and put back up. We could then have shade pretty well all year round.

Mossman Hospital

The Hospital Foundation had a fantastic fundraiser at the Mossman Bowls Club just days ago raising over $2500 at a trivia night.

Congratulations to those hard working volunteers and a particular shout out to those wonderful sponsors, many just small businesses in the Shire - so please support them.

What is disappointing is while these hardworking volunteers and sponsors do so much for our hospital, so as to purchase much needed vital equipment, the Cairns Hospital sits on six residential blocks of land in Daintree Horizons Estate and does nothing with them.

These blocks I understand were bought over nine years ago (since then) nothing has been built on any of them and from what I have been able to find out, there are no plans to build on them in the foreseeable future. Not good enough!

Mossman Bowls Club

The Mossman Bowls Club is undergoing a major reconstruction with over $5M to be spent. The new facility will have no steps, you will be able to drive up to the door and drop passengers off, while all undercover.

There will be a sports bar where the new pool table will be, a large TV so you can watch the footy and there will be a bar where you can sit at.

This facility will have a second entry for those not wishing to use the main entry.

The hall will be revamped and the floor re-varnished, it will be smaller but will still accommodate groups of up to 56 sitting patrons.

The kitchen is also going through with some improvements, with a new grill that uses up to 50% less gas and cooks quicker, as well as new under bench fridges that improve the work area and food quality.

With the new chef and other new kitchen staff, the quality of both the food and service is second to none.

A Pizza bar will soon be part of the kitchen refurbishment where you can order takeaway or eat in.

The games room and office is expected to be completed in early July, which will then allow construction of the sports bar to commence.

Final completion of the refurbishment is expected to be in October.

There is one other thing to bring you to this club...They have the cheapest beer in the Shire, Hahn 3.5 schooners, $5 every day and the most lovely staff will serve you.

If you prefer a coffee, the same lovely staff will make you a great barista coffee.

  • Bill Allison has lived in the Shire for more than 20 years and is a familar face across the Douglas Shire. Bill is the current Mossman Bowls Club chairperson, is active with the local men's shed and is a member and supporter of the local fishing and boating club.
  • A reminder the views and opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author and author only and do not reflect those of the editor or Newsport staff.

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