Cairns water security project: Budget submission reveals $215m ask
A detailed budget submission has outlined exactly what is required from state and federal governments to get a critical $215m Cairns water security effort across the line.
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A DETAILED budget submission has outlined exactly what is required from state and federal governments to get a critical $215m Cairns water security effort across the line.
Cairns Regional Council has asked the two top-tier governments to split the bill with respective $55m spends in 2024-25 and $52.5m the following financial year.
Failing that, the cost will fall on ratepayers – likely meaning higher rates and reduced capacity for big capital infrastructure works.
“Our community simply can’t be expected to carry the financial burden of what is decades of under-investment in regional water capacity and especially in the wake of the acute impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Cairns economy,” Mayor Bob Manning said.
More than 200 businesses have added their names to a list of supporters pushing for the Mulgrave River water harvesting project to get funded – and the list is still growing.
Cairns Chamber of Commerce CEO Patricia O’Neill said there was no greater priority for the region.
“We shouldn’t have to put our hand in our pocket for a project like this,” she said.
“There’s been examples where other parts of the country have had support and we need the federal and state governments to come to the table.”
Adllins Media marketing director Ange Collins was one of the first operators to jump on board when the council asked for backing.
“It is absolutely crucial to all businesses and industry across Cairns to throw their hat in the ring and show that support,” she said.
“Moving forward as a professional service … if you don’t have water, and those clients of ours don’t have water, we simply wouldn’t exist.
“So it’s one-plus-one stuff for us to be on board.”
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Originally published as Cairns water security project: Budget submission reveals $215m ask
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