LINDA Shuttleworth-Smith copped two bruised eyes, a bloodied nose and lip, chipped teeth and cuts to her face and hands.

But she wasn’t in a fight – the 56-year-old tripped on a dodgy pothole on a footpath on Mulgrave Rd outside the Cairns Showground.

Her face-first fall comes as the Cairns Regional Council plans a video footpath audit, by scooter, around the streets of Cairns this month.

After falling last week, Ms Shuttleworth-Smith saw a dentist and doctor and showed Cairns Regional Council officers her injuries face-to-face.

"I went to the council chambers and said I have a complaint about a footpath and lifted my sunglasses," she said.

Despite her injuries, Ms Shuttleworth-Smith says she was told there was not an issue with the footpath.

Council officers instead advised her to lodge a complaint, which she plans to do.

"Please fix them," she said.

"Kids run along this street, it’s a huge liability and an accident waiting to happen."

A council spokeswoman said roadworks had started on Mulgrave Rd but nothing was planned for the footpath.

Plans for Cairns’ video footpath audit will be known after November 17.

Cr Kirsten Lesina, who in August formed the Pedestrian and Cyclist Community Group, said the city’s strategy for foot and cycle paths would be reviewed starting in January.

"We’ve just applied for funding from the State Government to hire a consultant to do a review," she said.

"There is a priority list that the officers do up in relation to the safety issues and how many people use the paths."

The community group plans to meet at the Cairns city library next month.

Share this article