The Express Newspaper 8th February 2017

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EXPRESS The

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Locally owned and proudly independent

Irene’s pick of the bunch

FOR Mutchilba farmer Irene Westwood, finding the region’s biggest mango is as much about the fun of it as it is about pure luck. The lucky local, pictured here with granddaughters Gemma and Laura, has won The Express’ KP Mango Competition with her winning whopper topping the scales at 1.198kg. Mrs Westwood said she was delighted her entry was crowned champion mango. FULL STORY – PAGE 2

Just get on with it Cook MP backs $21m shopping centre land deal By Michael Serenc COOK MP Billy Gordon has backed a proposed

$21 million shopping centre for Mareeba, as the State Government considers selling a parcel of land needed for the project to go ahead. In an unexpected endorsement, Mr Gordon said the shopping centre would “drive business opportunities and jobs” for Mareeba and promised to write to Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham to encourage the State to sell the land needed to developer Reed-

lodge Pty Ltd. “Let’s get on with the project. There’s nothing else in the pipeline that matches this one,” he said in a statement. “Mareeba Shire has high youth unemployment. This project would generate about 250 jobs, including entry-level jobs in maintenance, construction and retail.” The move comes after Mareeba Shire Council voted against relinquishing their trusteeship over the 1128m2 parcel of land needed for the project at last month’s council meeting. While the decision on selling the land ulti-

mately rests with the State Government’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM), they will be influenced by council’s decision. Mr Gordon criticised council for not backing the shopping centre. “This is not good for business confidence when a local investor’s willingness to keep contributing to his local economy is stagnated because State land is not being made available for development,” he said. The land, originally reserved for aged housing, is hampered with drainage issues, lack of road access and a power pole which would all

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need to be rectified if council eventually decided to build on it. Mr Gordon said the shopping centre would have economic flow-on effects by acting as “a vibrant commercial and trade-hub for Cape York communities and the South Western communities beyond the Tablelands”. “It’s a significant economic stimuli being offered at the door-step, at a time when the Queensland Government is courting non-Australian investors,” he said.

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