Advance Cairns, Cairns Chamber of Commerce visit Canberra with key priorities for region
The Far North will receive billions of dollars less than all other Queensland regions over the next five years, a new report has revealed, as a delegation prepares to head to Canberra to fight for more funding.
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The Far North will receive billions of dollars less than all other Queensland regions over the next five years, a new report has revealed, as a delegation prepares to head to Canberra to fight for fresh funding.
More than 30 civic leaders from Cairns and the surrounding region are heading to the nation’s capital to advocate on key issues ahead of the looming federal election.
The delegation, which includes Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, will push for a range of priorities critical to the region’s growth and sustainability.
Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan said the group has a number of major priorities, including water security, defence, and connectivity.
Chief among them are federal funding of an $87.5m top-up for the Cairns Water Security Stage 1 Project, a $58m investment in Cairns Airport’s eastern aviation precinct, $5m annually to support international visitation to Cairns.
Also included in the list of priorities are securing James Cook University 80 Commonwealth Supported Places for medical students, additional funding to deliver the new Cairns CQUniversity CBD campus, establishing an Office of the Pacific in Cairns, prioritising critical road infrastructure, and supporting defence capacity and capability, among others.
“We’ve got a number of major priorities we want on the table, both with the government and opposition,” Ms Reddan said.
The trip to Canberra comes as the Queensland Major Contractors Association released its Queensland Major Projects Pipeline 2024 report, which revealed the Far North was sitting last on the list of Queensland regions when it came to spending on major infrastructure over the next five years.
According to the report, there is a $1.3bn infrastructure spend over the next five years in Cairns, about half of which is unfunded.
That compares to about $4bn in Townsville, $7.25bn in Brisbane, and $13bn in the Wide Bay.
Relative to last year, funded activity in the pipeline has fallen in Cairns by 26 per cent.
Ms Reddan said water security had been a particularly pressing concern for regional communities, with Cairns Regional Council pushing for additional federal funding to match the state’s investment.
“As one of the most popular places in Australia to live, Cairns must ensure it has a sustainable water supply for its growing population and the thousands of tourists who visit each year,” she said.
Defence and the region’s strategic role in the Pacific were also high on the agenda.
Ms Reddan said the delegation is also advocating for further investment in Cairns’ maritime precinct, including the potential for homeporting defence vessels in the city.
“Our geographical location makes Cairns a logical choice for basing vessels, especially given the growing geopolitical significance of the Pacific region,” she said.
Another key issue for the delegation is connectivity, which Ms Reddan said was critical for the “region’s economic prosperity”, and to ensure Cairns has the necessary road infrastructure to continue growing and remain resilient.
Additional emerging opportunities the group will put forward are sustainable aviation fuel, which is derived from sugarcane.
“This new venture has the potential to transform the region’s economy,” Ms Reddan said.
While infrastructure investment is also a key focus, the delegation is calling for policy changes.
One such proposal is for the Office of the Pacific to establish a presence in Cairns.
“Cairns has the largest diaspora of Papua New Guinea nationals outside of Port Moresby, so it makes sense for the operational arm of the Office of the Pacific to be based here,” Ms Reddan said.
“Strength in numbers is key
“With the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Tropical North Queensland, we’re confident that speaking with a united voice will give us the best shot at making sure Cairns and the Far North get the attention they deserve in Canberra.”
Ms Reddan said with the retirement of long-standing federal member Warren Entsch, making the seat of Leichhardt highly contested in the upcoming election, this was the Far North's’ change to be heard.
“This is our chance to ensure the region is heard and that we continue to play a vital role in Australia’s strategic and economic future,” she said.
Cairns Chamber of Commerce chief executive Patricia O’Neill said focus would also be placed on infrastructure in addition to defence, advocating for solutions to address the region’s skilled labour shortages.
“I guess the difference is skilled labour,” she said.
Ms O’Neill said while there have been shortfalls in the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility scheme, which primarily focuses on agriculture, the needs in Far North Queensland were much broader.
She emphasised the importance of covering a range of regions, “from as far as the tip of Cape York down to Townsville, and out west in Croydon”, underscoring the need for a tailored approach to workforce development which goes beyond agriculture to include other sectors critical to the region’s growth.
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Originally published as Advance Cairns, Cairns Chamber of Commerce visit Canberra with key priorities for region
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