The primary reason for Future of Cairns interest in the Flecker(Cairns) Botanic Gardens redevelopment is to ensure that Cairns CityCouncil is accountable rather than being an objection to the plan perse’. One year ago the CCC attempted to ram through a 30 million dollarproject without providing justification for the project and without anyimpact assessment and with the most pathetic public consultation everseen for a project of this scale. That kind of behaviour is simplyunacceptable from any level of government in this century.

The main principle of good public consultation is that you have to inform the public before you ask them for an informed opinion.  Begin by providing the public with background information on the current situation and by presenting the case for change.  Next, the proposed project should be well documented so that people can find out about the features of the project and what they do.  Lastly, there needs to be ways for the public to contact decision makers and to make formal submissions regarding their issues.  Ma

Ina letter from Mayor Byrne to Leslie Clark on page 2 of the Cairns Post,19 May 2005, the mayor stated, “Further you are aware also of theextensive consultation process undertaken in relation to this importantproject [botanical gardens] and you would be aware of what is requiredof the State Government before they commit funds to these projects.”  In FutureOfCairns opinion, the Botanic Gardens consultation process was substandard.   Atstage one of the consultation process we told the council in writingthat the