Cairns rectangular stadium bid ‘stalled’ as PNG makes NRL team play

Do-or-die deadlines are looming as staunch backers of a Cairns rectangular stadium bid warn the dream will crumble without urgent attention.

DO-OR-DIE deadlines are looming as staunch backers of a Cairns rectangular stadium bid warn the dream will crumble without urgent attention.

A push from Papua New Guinea to field a team in the National Rugby League by 2030 has triggered hints Cairns could play a key role.

Not everyone is convinced.

Enterprise North executive manager Kevin Byrne has urged Cairns Regional Council to abandon any hope of PNG stationing its national team outside of Port Moresby.

“The idea Cairns would get a stadium on the back end of a PNG bid is nonsense,” he said.

Mr Byrne said meetings with council CEO Mica Martin showed some impressive planning had been done.

However, deadlines had not been met and progress appeared stalled.

“We were impressed with what we heard and we have been awaiting a project update since which has not been forthcoming,” he said.

“That this Unity council and other councillors cannot move beyond its present stalled position is lamentable when it is obvious we are falling even further behind the likes of Bundaberg and Mackay in the pecking order … ”

The state government has already committed $40m-plus to upgrade Barlow Park as part of its 2032 Olympics legacy program.

A $10m lighting upgrade will be assessed under the next round of the federal Building Better Regions (BBR) program – although the council wants an election guarantee.

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Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said he was confident the lighting works would stand up to the funding test, but no major stadium election pledges were brewing.

“If they do want the money, I’m happy to do it, but they have to come up with a comprehensive plan,” he said.

Mr Entsch has seen a council concept for the site, which has seating that can be pushed back to expose an athletics track. He said the council was looking at a 15,000-seat stadium that could be expanded to 22,000 as the city grew.

The Cairns Cycling Club and Advance Cairns have also called for a multi-event cycling track and athletics facility to be built across the road from Cairns Hockey on Lake St.

Mr Entsch believed it should all be bundled into a formal stadium precinct bid, which he believed could be delivered for about $100m.

Labor candidate for Leichhardt candidate Elida Faith said there was “a bit of work to do yet” on the plan.

“I’m all ears and will always fight for projects that stack up and have community support … ” she said.

For its part, the council says it is still looking at options.

“Council is finalising plans for the major event precinct and detailed options will be formally presented to the mayor and councillors at the earliest opportunity … ” Ms Martin said.

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Originally published as Cairns rectangular stadium bid ‘stalled’ as PNG makes NRL team play