Innisfail Chamber of Commerce economic development strategy launch imminent

A Far Northern community looking to strengthen its socio-economic profile believes it can fill a gap in Cairns’ “bottle-necked” economy. HERE’S THE PLAN

INSTEAD of waging an economic war to reduce Cassowary Coast’s spending in Cairns, an Innisfail business leader is welcoming that trend while proposing to piggyback off the Far North giant’s growing industries.

Public spending in Cairns in recent years has grown exponentially with numerous road infrastructure projects, marine upgrades, venue upgrades, and of course, an increasing ratepayer base evident through the city’s unprecedented real estate demand.

But rather than be intimidated by Cairns’ “flash new toys” winning over Cassowary Coast residents to spend time and money further north, Innisfail Chamber of Commerce president Suzanne Bassette is hoping a series of surveys and studies, can help “share the pie” in her town.

“We want to understand why locals spend their money in Cairns instead of here, but also, we want to learn what products and services our local businesses actually offer,” she said.

“And then we can say ‘OK, they’re happy to travel to Cairns for these reasons, so what gaps can we fill here in Innisfail’.”

Ms Bassette said the solution to recovering Innisfail’s economy was already underway.

“I think after the cyclones, we lost a lot of people, property prices went down, it attracted a lot of people keen on cheaper housing and (government benefits) and now we’re left with a town that has the lowest number of tertiary qualified people, very few skills training opportunities and very few entrepreneurs.

CARDWELL

“But the reset button has been activated. Professional services such as accountants and lawyers from down south, that service Cairns are already setting up here in Innisfail. They don’t want to be in the rush of a city, but they’re still close enough, and we have plenty of commercial space here.

“So we might not revive retail, but as Cairns expands south and gets closer, what services can we base here. They (Cairns) will run out of room for their expanding industries like the marine precinct, we have a marina here. Can we attract skills training organisations to base themselves here, to supply skilled workers back to Cairns and the Far North?”

Ms Bassette said she was in talks with Cassowary Coast Regional Council to fund an economic development strategy which would identify Innisfail’s potential as an economic sister suburb.

Originally published as Innisfail Chamber of Commerce economic development strategy launch imminent