New Barlow Park stadium plans divide Far North leaders
First impressions of council plans for Barlow Park have been met with division with one stadium advocate labelling it a “smoke and mirrors job”. Read what FNQ leaders think.
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FAR North leaders are divided on the plans for Barlow Park unveiled on Tuesday with one key player labelling it a “smoke and mirrors job”.
The response comes after the Major Events Precinct Vision Development Opportunities Report was revealed — with councillors to vote on Wednesday.
Enterprise North executive manager Kevin Byrne has been pushing for the stadium for years but said this project had no funding vision.
Mr Byrne said he suggested to council and Mayor Bob Manning to explore NAIF and the Queensland Treasury Corporation as funding avenues.
“This should be a staged upgrade program and the whole Barlow Park component could be completed over five years but ideally within four given supply line constraints. Our estimate of costs in today’s dollars is $120m,” he said.
This report and plan means Cairns has been dealt out of any rectangle sports Olympic involvement with the worst facilities for soccer, union and rugby league in regional Queensland, according to Mr Byrne.
“This is a seriously embarrassing position in which Cairns finds itself,” he said.
“Another smoke and mirrors job.”
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said he was left out of the plans which never came across his desk.
“There has to be the element of a rectangular stadium,” he said.
Cairns Showground, that shares space with Barlow Park, were on board but weren’t sure how much funding was needed.
Ian Moller-Neilsen, Cairns Showground’s secretary manager said the plans aligned with their land management plan and masterplan.
To fund development, external funding will be available to the showgrounds once its 12-month lease is up as Mr Moller-Neilsen said a renewed long-term lease would secure funding.
“It’s a positive step in the right direction, we’re working with the Cairns Regional Council,” he said.
“The Cairns Show, Barlow Park, Cairns Youth Centre and the Band Hall are on all the one lot number so this will give them a chance to tidy all that up.”
Mr Moller-Neilsen compared the plans to showgrounds as a “piece of string” and said they weren’t sure whether to continue development or start from scratch.
“None of us are really sure what it looks like yet,” he said.
“We’ve got to look at it in terms of what’s best for the people of Cairns.”
Cairns MP Michael Healy said he was “generally supportive” of council’s Barlow Park.
“I believe the ongoing development and upgrade to Barlow Park along with the development of a Sports Performance Hub is what our community needs,” he said.
“Partnering with key stakeholders like TAFE and CQUniversity will be fundamental to the success of this project and something our city can benefit from enormously.
“By expanding our sports tourism infrastructure, we’re not only developing an active and healthy community but growing our economic opportunities also.”
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