COVID-19 Cairns Local Recovery Planning

Since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020, Council has worked with health authorities, government agencies, the business sector and social services to coordinate support efforts for our community.

The human and social response to COVID-19 was initially managed by a committee, the HSRRSC, which was led by Council and included dozens of local services providers and government agencies.

We have also been looking towards the future, working together, and planning to put frameworks and strategies into place to help the community to recover and thrive.

One of the early recovery tasks was a Rapid Social Needs Assessment ( PDF, 3.41 MB ), undertaken by James Cook University, to gauge the human and social impact and needs of our community.

Pulse of the Community

The 'Pulse of the Community' COVID-19 Cairns Local Recovery Plan progress report outlines community sentiments on life in Cairns during COVID-19 and will feed into efforts to improve our community’s resilience and quality of life.

The report, commissioned by Council and undertaken in partnership with JCU, includes a snapshot of social and economic impacts, trends and their ongoing effects on the community.

Findings showed COVID-19 intensified well known pre-existing social issues as well as creating new problems, with the effects touching a broader cross-section of our community for the first time.

Feedback from the community confirmed unprecedented levels of housing instability, overcrowding and homelessness; the prevalence and intensity of domestic violence; the extent of social isolation and mental health concerns; worries about community safety; and the impact of the lack of digital connectivity and inclusion for very vulnerable groups.

The report also noted the value the local community places on the sense of space and freedom that living in Cairns offers, with respondents highlighting their pride and value in Council’s parks and recreational areas, together with a sense of community solidarity and reciprocity between people.

COVID-19 Cairns Local Recovery Plan

The COVID-19 Cairns Local Recovery Plan sets out the tasks and actions we will need to recover and strengthen our community and economy. Together, with more than 100 community groups, government agencies, charity organisations, businesses and industry groups, we have drafted a number of recovery outcomes for the city, and identified the tasks and timeframes needed to achieve these outcomes. The recovery tasks and objectives include:

• Investigating region-specific incentives to drive employment and population growth in Cairns.
• Unlocking local manufacturing and value-adding of existing supply chains.
• Neighbourhood-based activities and events that connect people and strengthen communities.
• Advocacy and lobbying for projects that support the creation of new experiences, infrastructure and jobs such as Wangetti Trail, Cairns Gallery Precinct and Indigenous-led cultural experiences
• Establishing a pandemic-specific communications plan.
• Backing research and development for better-integrated social service delivery models and long-term resilience planning.

You can download a two-page summary of the COVID-19 Cairns Local Recovery Plan ( PDF, 1.36 MB ) to find out how you can help and have your say.

The full document - the COVID-19 Cairns Local Recovery Plan ( PDF, 6.21 MB ) - is downloadable as a PDF, or you can read it online below.