Your Easter Long Weekend local news briefing // 14-16 April 2017

WEATHER FORECAST
Cairns: 24-29C max, 60% chance of rain
Port Douglas: 24-30C max, 90% chance of rain
Mareeba: 19-27C max, 60% chance of rain
Innisfail: 22-29C max, 90% rain


TODAY'S TOP STORIES

CAIRNS TO GET NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HUB
The State Government has announced plans for a $300,000 international student hub to help boost the city's attractiveness for global education services.
Support services will include accommodation advice, cultural and religious support, and individual services including health support, work experience, and employment advice.
The Cairns student hub will be a partnership between Study Cairns, Cairns Regional Council and the local community.
Full story to come later today on TropicNow.

BUILDING APPROVALS HIT 17-YEAR LOW
Tourism may be going gang-busters, but the city's building industry is still flat-lining.
Herron Todd White's Rick Carr says building approvals have fallen steadily to a 17-year low, with a 57.8 per cent trend fall since January 2016.
Mr Carr expects this trend to turnaround however, with TNQ experiencing its highest international tourism numbers in eight years in February, in addition to growth in domestic tourist numbers.

COMEDY FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Two of Australia's top comedians will present a rip-roaring night of "outrageously honest" laughs at a fundraising event on 29 April.
To be held at Brother's Leagues Club, the Women Like Us show features Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs in a two-hour comedy show aimed at raising funds for the Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service.
For tickets, click here to buy them online, call 40531053 or grab them from Brothers.

PRIDE ON THE LINE
The Northern Pride's ragged start to the season continued on the weekend, with a 24-10 loss to Ipswich.
The Pride is languishing near the bottom of the ladder in 11th spot after losing five of the first seven games of the season.
Coach Ty Williams wants his side to lift its game in attack, saying the 17-man squad needed to stand up and be "accountable" for its poor performance so far this season.