IF it wasn't printed in black and white of the pages of The Cairns Post I wouldn't have believed it.

Not once but twice in the space of a week, a Cairns councillor was doing their job by showing leadership with a vision for the city’s future.

Yes, Cr Alan Blake, it’s time to take a bow.

It may have taken years of patient lobbying and countless rallying calls and a couple of cage-rattling columns from colleague Greg Punshon and I, but it seems the political will and motivation has finally arrived to overhaul the CBD.

When I emailed Cr Blake last month about his views on the city’s decaying heart, I asked him to rate the state of the CBD on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being mind blowingly fantastic and 1 being, well, Cairns.

He gave it a 6, which is a diplomatic way of saying it stinks.

Cr Blake says the multi-million dollar makeover plan includes a block by block upgrade of dodgy footpaths, ugly gardens and various bits of vandalism.

Importantly, the Cairns Chamber of Commerce followed Cr Blake’s vow to transform the place into a buzzing, welcoming hub by announcing a taskforce to drive the overhaul process.

The chamber’s past president Bob Norman has long campaigned for a better CBD, and he should be involved in the new committee.

Mr Norman is particularly fed up with the drab appearance of the city’s buildings and shop fronts, including government offices and outlets such as the post office and court house.

In a name and shame list published in this newspaper last year, Mr Norman pointed the finger at the city’s five ugliest buildings.

The Rydges Plaza Hotel in Grafton St was featured on the list and, to its credit, the hotel’s management decided to do something about it.

They sent the article to head office to help convince the accounting department to spend thousands on a massive paint job and renovation.

Rydges have set an example for other businesses to follow.

And I hope other owners and shops join the process because, as Cr Blake and Chamber president Jeremy Blockey have pointed out, that’s the key to the success of the overhaul project.

No matter what council and state and federal governments do to turn the place around, nothing will be achieved without the co-operation of the private sector.

A bit of public and private spending now will reap benefits in extra customers and the welcoming and warm feeling that tourists will take back with them and tell their friends about.

"It’s time for a hands-on approach," Cr Blake said last week.

"We need to do something about it to encourage people to come into the CBD and visit again.

"This is something we can all do."

The final element of success required to make the CBD the best in Australia is the input of the community.

I’d like to hear your ideas, whether it’s a call for a majestic fountain or more street performers or a request for a bulldozer to get rid us of the giant mushroom in City Place.

One friend, for example, believes CBD building owners should cut their large shops into smaller leases and floor space, like the tiny laneway fashion stores in Melbourne, to provide more retail diversity.

While on holiday in Sydney this past week, I came to realise that, despite its problems, Cairns is a paradise unparalleled anywhere in Australia.

It is just missing a thriving, beating heart.

I can’t wait to see the results of the new fight to revive it.

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