Cairns regional forum agenda to push city’s case for Olympics and sports service industry
If Cairns is to truly benefit from the 2032 Olympics, the discussion needs to indentify the city’s ability to offer pre and post games services at a crucial upcoming forum.
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EXPERTS in the Far North’s leading industries will be pushing hard for the region’s economic, social and infrastructure needs as the state’s top ministers gather in Cairns for a regional community forum.
Members from the region’s small business, eco-tourism, entertainment, indigenous partnerships, health, and local government sectors are expected to meet with disability services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships minister Craig Crawford and tourism, innovation and sport minister Stirling Hinchliffe on Monday.
Cook MP Cynthia Lui, along with Cairns MP Michael Healy and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt will be co-chairing the forum, with the latter two stating the “agenda would be set by the forum members” but both hinted at possible topics.
Mr Pitt said Cairns-born actor Aaron Fa’aoso would be attending as well as former Socceroo Adam Sarota to speak of their respective creative and building industries, as well as Indigenous issues.
And Mr Healy said he expected labour shortages, the environment and housing issues would all be raised, and with the minister assisting the Premier on Olympic sport engagement Mr Hinchliffe present, he said he’d “be surprised” if there wasn’t a case made for Cairns and the major event.
“The benefits for us aren’t going to be the two weeks of the Olympics, the benefits will be the time leading up and after to ensure we’re left with world-renowned infrastructure to host world-class training here,” Mr Healy said.
“I can’t speak for minister Hinchliffe and say what he’s thinking for Cairns, but I’ve met with a range of sporting groups and we’ll continue to advocate to build on the facilities we have.”
Among industry heads attending will be TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen who said the forum was crucial to make a point of how Cairns could build a long-term industry as a by-product of the Olympics, but also remind the ministers how the region’s tourism sector influenced the rest of the country.
“We’ve (had) the Japanese swim team here, the Australian team here. Humidity training is something that’s rising and the Olympics isn’t the reason to build the facilities for this level of training, it’s the catalyst,” Mr Olsen said.
“Our best opportunity is pre games training, and then being left with a recognised and world-renowned industry for humidity training.”
He said he’d also be building a case for the State to further fund the region’s aviation industry to attract more full-service carriers and routes, including an alternative option (which includes business class) to Japan, year-round services from Auckland to Cairns, and connections between the US and Cairns via New Zealand.
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Originally published as Cairns regional forum agenda to push city’s case for Olympics and sports service industry
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