Kesa Strieby, president of CARMA, happy to see progress on Cairns multicultural facility

A community leader has praised the progress of a multicultural facility that 45 cultural groups in Cairns have spent more than 15 years waiting for, but the announcement wasn’t without shock factor.

More than 15 years in the making, a council decision to progress the Cairns Multicultural Facility has been met with a mix of joy and alarm.

Cairns and Region Multicultural Association (CARMA) president Kesa Strieby said she was pleased by last week’s unanimous council vote.

“I’ve been waiting for more than a decade to have this done,” Ms Strieby said.

“We were looking forward to it; we’ve been waiting patiently.”

CARMA's multicultural festival members Kesa Strieby from Fiji, Teresia Lallemand from Kenya, Francisco Medrano from Philippines, Prahlad Dahal from Bhutan and Baishali Sengupta from India in their traditional dress. Picture: Anna Rogers

The facility will provide a space for many community groups, including 45 distinct cultural groups represented by CARMA, to practise cultural activities, host events and youth programs, and co-ordinate important meetings.

But Ms Strieby, who has been closely involved in consultation with Cairns Council regarding the facility, expressed concern over its location.

She said she was shocked to hear it would be built in White Rock, and not a more centralised location, convenient for those who live in the Northern and Western suburbs.

Cr Cathy Zeiger moved the motion for a multicultural facility at a Cairns Council meeting on October 26. Picture: Emily Barker

“It’s good for the people in the south of Cairns, but what about those in the north and west? I’m worried less people will access it as it’s far to travel,” she said.

“I’ve been there from the beginning, part of consultation for ten years, but I did not know it would be built there.”

The motion was moved by Division 3 councillor Cathy Zeiger at the council’s meeting on Wednesday, October 26.

Cr Zeiger said it’s exciting to see the council addressing the needs of Cairns’ multicultural community, who’ve been requesting this facility for many years.

“We’re all one community … it just makes sense to make it purpose built to meet the requirements of all different backgrounds,” Cr Zeiger said.

“The south side is the fastest growing area of Cairns, so it makes sense to put it there. I understand a lot of people from multicultural backgrounds live in the Western Suburbs, but a lot of them are moving south.

“This is going to cost in the vicinity of 14 million dollars … we’ve got the money put aside for it.”

Originally published as Kesa Strieby, president of CARMA, happy to see progress on Cairns multicultural facility