Angry at crematorium plan
CAIRNS business operators are angry that Cairns Regional Council approved a crematorium next door to their workplaces in Woree.
Yesterday, after heated debate, the council gave conditional approval for the crematorium in a Woree industrial shed.
The gas-powered crematorium is set to be installed in a Salter Ave building less than 100m from the Bruce Highway and less than 200m from the City Waters apartment complex.
Division 3 Cr Robert Pyne led a spirited fight against its approval with the support of Cr Paul Gregory, Cr Linda Cooper, Cr Julia Leu and Cr Kirsten Lesina.
However, Mayor Val Schier, Cr Nancy Lanskey, Cr Alan Blake, Cr Margaret Cochrane, Cr Diane Forsyth and Cr Sno Bonneau voted to approve the Burkin Funerals application.
Neighbouring business owner Lutsje Waddington was angry at the decision as she often has to take her children to work to care for them.
"How do I explain to the kids when hearses with coffins turn up," she said.
Ms Waddington said all she could tell them was that they were bringing in bodies to burn.
"It’s spooky, I hope we won’t be able to hear it," she said.
Across the road, mechanic Mark Gawley was equally unimpressed saying the proposed crematorium was a "bit creepy". "I don’t know if there will be smoke or smells," he said.
His partner, Kirsty Harper could not understand why the crematorium was allowed in an industrial park when there were distance restrictions in residential areas.
"They are not allowed to have crematoriums within 100m of residential areas, so why should they be allowed to have it where people can breathe it in," she said.
Council officers say exhaust from the crematorium would not impact on the health of workers as it emitted less particulate matter than a normal fireplace and eight times less odour than a restaurant.
Share this article
Not happy: Mechanic Mark Gawley is disappointed Cairns council gave the green light to a crematorium in an industrial shed (background) near his Woree business.
New Jetstar flights between Cairns and Osaka
THE re-introduction of Jetstar's four weekly direct services to Osaka in Japan and a doubling of flights to Melbourne from April 1 next year are the first significant announcements today by the airline as the result of a new agreement with Cairns Airport.
Kate earns National Pride Medal
INSPIRING young leader and cancer survivor Kate Smith could hardly believe she won a national Pride of Australia medal last night.
Escapee back in custody
BREAKING NEWS: Police have found a man who escaped from police custody at Ravenshoe on Sunday night.
Woman watched boyfriend bash, strip tourist
THE girlfriend of a man accused of raping and attempting to rape two foreign tourists at a Cairns caravan park says she watched him bash and strip one of them then chase after her.
