Mayor puts Cairns arts precinct redevelopment in state’s ‘court’
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden says she has received glowing reviews of leaked images of the Cairns Arts Gallery precinct and master plan, with the state government finally weighing in on the proposed development.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden says she has received glowing reviews of leaked images of the Cairns Arts Gallery precinct and master plan, with the state government finally weighing in on the proposed development.
But the city’s deputy mayor has kiboshed any further advocacy from the council, calling for greater investment in infrastructure, instead.
The Cairns Post can reveal more renders and details from the uncosted gallery which would tower above Fogarty Park on the Esplanade, connecting the city precinct to its three existing arts galleries.
Speaking on ABC radio on Thursday morning, Ms Eden said she had received positive appraisals regarding the precinct’s grand vision and would await further discussion with Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek.
“The feedback from the public is, ‘Wow. This is beautiful. It accentuates all of this tropical living that we love and nod to the First Nations cultures’, which is lovely,” she said.
“The ball is in the state government’s court. Our focus is making sure that we’re Olympics ready and that our critical infrastructure, water at Edmonton and priority development trunk infrastructure at Edmonton is there.
“We’ve also got the (development of the) SDA (state development area) across the highway and we know there’s a real need for industrial land.”
Last week, Ms Eden said it was “disappointing” that the LNP had dumped the $165m First Nations cultural centre proposed for the CBD last month.
But she added that the “hard work and the heavy lifting” had been done to “fast-track” the council’s separate precinct master plan project ahead of the 2032 Games.
Deputy mayor Brett Olds said the council needed “laser-like” focus on advocating for more housing through its $450m southern growth corridor project.
“Our focus is not there. It’s a nice to have,” Mr Olds said.
“A few years ago we were looking at becoming the arts capital of northern Australia, which I believe we are already. We’ve done a lot in this space.
“You’d never look a gift horse in the mouth but the council is not looking into it.”
Framed as a “21st century art museum experience”, the gallery would feature outdoor spaces designed to serve as “magnets for social interaction” with “visual connections to earth, sea and sky” inside the gallery.
“Through inviting civic spaces and carefully curated connections, the landscape serves as both a framework and a destination,” the master plan report said.
“It fosters community engagement, cultural celebration and a deep connection to the natural beauty of Cairns.”
Ms Eden said she was unaware how details of the project had been made public.
“Any leaks worry me. All the time and it’s really disappointing that leaks continue to happen,” she said.
“I’m not saying that this leak even came from the council. This leak could have come from a third party because this was external to the council as well.
“It’s created a conversation and I guess we’ll see where it lands.”
Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the council had yet to approach them regarding the proposal.
“We understand that Cairns Regional Council has had a long-standing ambition for a Cairns Arts Gallery precinct, however, the department has not been engaged on this recent proposal,” Mr Langbroek said.
The mayor has previously claimed that the former Labor government had “shafted” Cairns when it came to state funding compared to other regions outside South East Queensland.
Originally published as Mayor puts Cairns arts precinct redevelopment in state’s ‘court’
