State election priorities
Council has unanimously endorsed nine key Council-led advocacy priorities ahead of the October 2024 State election.
These initiatives will prepare Cairns for future growth and development, across areas such as housing, recreational infrastructure and diversifying our economy.
Council is actively engaging with local members, candidates and relevant Ministers, Shadow Ministers and other stakeholders with a view to securing election commitments for these important priorities for our community.
In addition to the Council-led advocacy priorities outlined on this page, Council is also working collaboratively with our advocacy partners including neighbouring councils, Advance Cairns, Cairns Chamber of Commerce, Far North Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC), RDA Tropical North and TTNQ on a range of other advocacy priorities relevant to our region.
Our priorities
At a glance
$4 million in State funding, matched by Cairns Regional Council ($8 million total), for the detailed design and construction of the Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre
About the Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre
The Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre will deliver social facilities and key support and outreach services for residents of the White Rock and surrounding areas and the diverse multicultural community that calls Cairns home.
The centre will include a fully equipped commercial kitchen, multipurpose spaces to accommodate groups of up to 200 people, small meeting rooms, dedicated space for service providers to run programs, foyer and reception area, and covered areas for play groups and cultural practices,
Construction is expected to commence in the 2024/25 financial year and be completed in the 2027/28 financial year.
At a glance
- $14 million to deliver an expanded trail network at the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park
- Commitment to deliver a parking solution for the Wangetti Trail Southern Trailhead
Trail network expansion
The 30km Smithfield Mountain Bike Trail network is well established and has played host to numerous world class events including the UCI MTB World Championships and Crankworx Cairns.
With mountain bike tourism capable of generating an additional $95 million per annum in visitor spend, an expansion of the trail network will allow the region to leverage its reputation as a premier mountain bike destination to grow this market while enhancing the ability of the local community to experience world class trails on their doorstep.
A 2022 State Government report proposes expansion of the existing trail network by a further 52km (82km in total) on a staged basis at an estimated cost of $14 million.
Wangetti Trail
The Wangetti Trail will be Queensland’s first purpose-built, dual-use walking and mountain biking track in a national park. Linking Palm Cove to Port Douglas, the trail is close to, and complements the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. With the trail scheduled for completion in 2026, a parking solution is needed at the southern trailheads in Palm Cove and Ellis Beach to facilitate efficient and effective trail access.
Read the full briefing paper ( PDF, 1.25 MB )
Commitments to date
The LNP, announced by LNP candidate for Barron River Bree James, has committed $14 million towards the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Trail network expansion.
At a glance
- State to support the establishment of a high-performance facility within the Major Events Precinct adjacent to Barlow Park.
- State to fund the Major Events Precinct Masterplan.
Council is calling on the State Government to leverage the recently announced joint State/Federal investment of $91 million in upgrading Barlow Park ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Games by creating a high-performance training facility and completing a masterplan for the Cairns Major Events Precinct.
Major Events Precinct Masterplan
The Major Events Precinct Visioning and Development Opportunities Report prepared in 2022 highlights 6 development opportunities for this key strategic site, covering an area of 26 hectares including Barlow Park, the Cairns Showgrounds and adjacent community sporting and leisure facilities.
A masterplan for the precinct will provide a blueprint for future staged development to realise the full potential of the site.
High performance facility
Cairns is already an attractive training destination across multiple sporting disciplines.
A high performance facility will help cement the region’s reputation as a place to ‘train and play’ for national and international athletes and sporting teams in the lead up to, and following, the Brisbane 2032 Games, while providing benefits for locally based sporting teams, private sector allied health professionals and universities delivering high performance and sports science programs.
Read the full briefing paper ( PDF, 0.84 MB )
Commitments to date
The ALP, announced by ALP candidate for Cairns Michael Healy, has committed $15 million towards a high performance centre for Cairns.
At a glance
We are calling on the State Government to declare a Priority Development Area (PDA) over the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor to fast-track housing development and infrastructure delivery to meet the needs of the region’s growing population.
About the PDA
The 3,300 hectare Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor, between Edmonton and Gordonvale, can deliver around 18,500 new dwellings to house an estimated 42,500 people.
It is the only remaining greenfield development area of this scale within the Cairns Regional Council footprint and is forecast to accommodate the vast majority of Cairns’ long-term population growth.
Strategic planning for the growth of this area is therefore paramount to achieving positive community outcomes and ensuring the right infrastructure is delivered in the right place and at the right time.
At a glance
$1.46 million in State funding, matched by Cairns Regional Council ($2.92 million in total), to deliver the Jeff Pezzutti Park Youth Activities Space
About the Jeff Pezzutti Park Youth Activities Space
Located within walking distance of five schools, Jeff Pezzutti Park should be the focal point of recreation and leisure activities in Woree, and, in the broader context, the 18,500 residents of the suburbs of Woree, Bayview Heights and Mount Sheridan.
However, the park has suffered from crime and safety concerns, ageing infrastructure, space constraints and poor parking and vehicle access.
Council is seeking to transform the park in accordance with the 2018 masterplan to include a new, contemporary skatepark informed by extensive community consultation; multi-use court; playground; pump track and improved lighting.
At a glance
The State Government to deliver an entry statement for Palm Cove at the intersection of Palm Cove Boulevard and the Great Barrier Reef Drive.
Why we need an entry statement
Despite attracting thousand of domestic and international visitors each year, there is little to mark the way from the Captain Cook Highway to Palm Cove, or announce the start of the Great Barrier Reef Drive – an iconic tourism drive connecting Cairns to Cape Tribulation.
Preliminary concepts for an entry statement near the old Cairns Tropical Zoo site, include:
- Arrival signage on the western side of the Captain Cook Highway near Alexandra Street
- A roundabout at the intersection of the Captain Cook Highway and Palm Cove Boulevard with a second Palm Cove sign
- Pedestrian bridge over the highway with Great Barrier Reef Drive signage
- Palm tree groves lining both sides of the highway.
As well a providing much-need place making, the entry statement will provide a lasting and positive first impression of the region, support broader destination marketing, improve traffic and pedestrian safety, and serve as a focal point for the community fostering a sense of pride and ownership among residents.
At a glance
$5 million in State funding, matched by Cairns Regional Council ($10 million in total), to deliver Stage 3 of the Redlynch Community Sporting Precinct
About the Redlynch Community Sporting Precinct
Adjacent to existing playing fields and outdoor multi-purpose courts, the Redlynch Community Sporting Precinct on Portelli Road is perfectly positioned to provide infrastructure for a wide variety of sporting activities to meet the needs of the Brinsmead, Caravonica, Freshwater, Kamerunga, Redlynch and Redlynch Valley communities.
Stage 3 of the Redlynch Sport and Recreation Parklands Masterplan will deliver new rectangular fields, a new oval field and accompanying amenities, internal roads and car parking, with future stages adding further playing fields, covered courts and a nature-based recreation area.
This next stage of development will complement the already completed AFL Cape York House for Girls and active transport links connecting neighbouring residential and recreational areas.
Stage 3 construction is scheduled for 2025/26.
At a glance
$1.85 million in State funding, matched by Cairns Regional Council ($3.7 million in total), to deliver Stages 1 and 2 of the Smithfield Leisure Precinct Masterplan.
About the Smithfield Leisure Precinct
With a catchment of more than 10,000 residents, existing leisure facilities in the Smithfield / Trinity Park area are no longer fit for purpose. Delivery of the Smithfield Leisure Precinct Masterplan will enhance and complement the existing library, and sporting and recreation centre to meet the growing needs of this area.
Stages 1 and 2 will deliver new car parking, entry, services, CCTV, landscaping, rectangular training field, informal recreational space and adventure play. Future stages will add a performance stage, running loop, pedestrian crossing and sculptural park.
At a glance
State (in conjunction with the Federal Government where appropriate) to address current gaps in the Tropical Cyclone Jasper funding arrangements.
Why we need additional funding
Council is grateful for funding from the Queensland and Australian Governments to support our community recovery from the December 2023 flooding following Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
However, funding gaps have been identified in three key areas:
- Restoring and building resilience of community and recreation infrastructure such as walking tracks, foreshores and exercise equipment
- ‘Building back better’ to ensure assets (public and private) are restored at a more resilient standard
- Mitigation and resiliency efforts such as flood studies, risk assessments and management strategies to manage river, creek and overland flood risk.
Funding in these areas will ensure the community is better prepared for, and more resilient to, the impacts of future disaster events; essential recreation assets that support community health and wellbeing will be restored; and the cost for addressing recovery priorities are shared across all levels of government providing cost-of-living relief.
Last Updated: 8 October 2024
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