Industry threat is real

LIKE sugar, bananas are probably the most identifiable crop when you mention Far North Queensland.
   And equally, they are among the most important.
   Remember after Cyclone Larry when prices skyrocketed and the humble banana was almost solely blamed from a rise in the Consumer Price Index?
   That`s an indicator how important the crop and naturally the industry is to this region and the country.
   But it seems that only when it is under threat does it get some major airplay.
   Respected economist Bill Cummings put things clearly into perspective this week when he said the loss of the banana industry would hurt this region more than the loss of the 100,000 Japanese tourists.
   Mr Cummings estimated the loss to the region of in the vicinity of $400 million a year.
   This is not just an issue about scientific standards and quarantine risks, it is an issue about livelihoods of individuals and whole town economies.
   And it should pay to remember that Australia cannot send its bananas to another country, so why should another country be able to dump its excess fruit on our market?
   
   Its drivers, not roads
   
   WITH yesterday`s announcement that the Bruce Highway from Gordonvale to Cairns will eventually become a motorway of up to eight lanes in places, you have to ask what will wider roads and more lanes do to reduce accidents.
   The answer is probably very little.
   Increasing the number of lanes is about ensuring traffic gets from A to B quicker.
   The only way the number of accidents will be reduced is if there is a change of attitude in the drivers using the roads. 
   You don`t have to be a regular highway runner to see the near misses every day because people are impatient.
   They don`t want to get caught at a red light, so they run the yellow whether it`s been on for one second or five.
   They think they can get to where they are going quicker because the next lane appears to be moving faster and they duck, dodge and weave as many times as they can.
   Does it really matter if you`re home at 6.12 instead of 6.10?
   
   Good turn backfires
   
   ONE good turn deserves another ... or so it should.
   Take the case of a local bottle shop manager who was bitten by his good turn this week.
   A small 4WD with clearly intoxicated occupants stopped outside his store this week, blocking the laneway between his and other shops.
   On two counts our friend did a good turn: First he convinced the occupants not to drive any more and sceond he called a taxi to take them to wherever they were staying.
   His last comment to them was "make sure you get someone to come and move your car``.
   That was at 9.30am and eight hours later the 4WD was still there, blocking the driveway.
   ""I had a delivery truck come and it had to park up the street, meaning I had to carry 40-odd cartons of beer about 100m in 34 degree heat.'' 
   The only punishment for the drivers was a parking ticket.
   
   Market moves
   
   HANDS up all those who believe Rusty`s Markets should be moved to a new location.
   I`ll be among the first, knowing the stall holders will probably stone me with their leftover produce.
   Let`s get it straight, Cairns needs Rusty`s Markets, but it would be wonderful if the markets were in a location where there is adequate parking for a start and perhaps even co-located with craft markets and the like.
   This is going to be a matter where a bit of vision could produce a stunning outcome for Cairns.
   But it is going to need an open-minded approach.

 

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