Thanks, that's what I figured. I think I've given up on the rental I had reserved in Sydney, and am figuring how to get one for the Ocean Road drive in Melbourne without the $50-80/night parking charge. But Cairns seems like it makes sense to keep, with the cost of 4 shuttles and free parking - an SUV for 6 days at $189 all-in seemed like a very good deal.
From tripadvisor reviews, those getting renovated rooms recently seem pretty positive. I'm not headed there until June, so everything should be wrapped up (supposedly by April) and the kinks ironed out, just in time.