Cairns Global Tourism Hub declared ‘dead in the water’ after missing construction schedule
The proposed billion-dollar Global Tourism Hub in Cairns has been declared “dead in the water” with the impacts of COVID-19 being blamed.
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The proposed billion-dollar Global Tourism Hub in Cairns has been declared “dead in the water” with the impacts of COVID-19 being blamed.
Cairns MP Michael Healy made the concession on Wednesday and said it was due to the coronavirus’ impact.
But, he said, he would now push for a national indigenous museum on the Wharf St waterfront site instead.
Mr Healy said that before coronavirus, project announcements were scheduled but “a number of deadlines have been extended”.
“I understand discussions were continuing and, as a result of COVID-19, it would be fair to say the project would almost be dead in the water,” he said.
“We haven’t been officially notified, we are still waiting to hear from a number of parties.”
Mr Healy said an official government announcement was due soon.
He said it was time to look at other opportunities, including lobbying state and federal governments for a national indigenous museum at the waterfront location.
“Cairns is a far better place than any other city to be able to claim the home of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.
The concept was first touted by the State Government in 2018 as a world class centre showcasing indigenous culture and art on the banks of the Brisbane River
It came after the LNP’s criticism on Wednesday that the State Government had failed to deliver on its promise of providing 2300 jobs as part of the proposal.
Opposition state development spokesman Andrew Powell said “none of it [the proposal] has come to fruition” while he was in Cairns.
“The government website states that construction should be underway, but a project proponent hasn’t even been selected,” he said.
“This project has been grossly mismanaged from the Palaszczuk Labor government who can’t be trusted to create new jobs.”
LNP candidate for Barron River Linda Cooper said Labor had been holding Cairns back for too long with empty promises.
“The hub was Labor’s promise to this city to invest heavily in infrastructure and to create a whole new area of livelihood for our city — now that has obviously failed,” Ms Cooper said.
“Not only has it been a lack of jobs, but it’s also the actual lack of looking forward that a lot of businesses in this area are now missing.”
The preferred proponent of the project, earmarked to be built across two sites within the Cityport precinct at Wharf Street, was scheduled to be announced in the first quarter of this year.
Mr Healy said that before the coronavirus, project announcements were scheduled but “a number of deadlines have been extended”.
“I understand discussions were continuing and as a result of COVID-19, it would be fair to say the project would almost be dead in the water,” he said.
“We haven’t been officially notified, we are still waiting to hear from a number of parties.”
Mr Healy said he expected an official announcement from the government confirming his comments “in the near future”.
He said it was time to look at other opportunities, including lobbying state and federal governments for a national Indgienous museum at the waterfront location.
“Cairns is a far better place than any other city to be able to claim the home of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.
The concept was first touted by the state government in 2018 as a worldclass centre showcasing Indigenous culture and art on the banks of the Brisbane River.
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