Cairns Show Association granted 20-year lease of Cairns Showground
Cairns organisations that occupy land within the Cairns Showground precinct can now look to the future with confidence now that long-term deals have at last been struck with council.
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Cairns organisations that occupy land within the Cairns Showground precinct can now look to the future with confidence now that long-term deals have at last been struck with Cairns Regional Council.
The Cairns Show Association will be offered a 20 year lease of the Cairns Showground and a special condition will allow for the future redevelopment under council’s masterplan and expected use of Barlow Park for the 2032 Olympic Games.
Essentially the “surrender and reissue” clause allows council flexibility to manage tenures to suit all parties.
Cairns Show Society president Cairns Show Association president Ian Allen said the lease agreed on by council on October 25 was a significant arrangement not before offered in the recent history of the site.
“This is 20 year lease that is a historical agreement,” he said.
“The concern was a lot of the service clubs like the Lions and Rotary clubs, the spinner and weavers didn’t have certainty of tenure.
“And now they have certainty and even the Showman’s Guild, Cairns is really important for the guild and now they can plan to get new rides.”
The long-term lease followed a period of limbo for the Cairns Showgrounds when in 2019 council granted an interim three year lease that expired in September.
Due to concern the lease could impact the viability of the 30-year master plan council refused to grant a 15 year lease that was requested at the time.
In 2019 council unveiled a $35m masterplan for the huge site to include an eat street food and wine precinct, picturesque canal and RV park camping grounds to transform the Cairns Showground.
Previously the Cairns BMX Club sublet land from the Cairns Show Association but now the club with a 40 year history at the site have been offered their own 10 year trustee lease as a direct tenant of council.
Cairns Brass Inc has also been offered a 10 year trustee lease, Cairns Youth and a three year trustee permit has been offered to the Cairns Youth and Recreation Centre on Mulgrave Rd and due to expected Barlow Park upgrades Cairns Meals on Wheels has also been granted three year trustee permits along with Cairns Athletics.
Former Cairns BMX Club president Weng Nish said it had been a long road to at last locking in the new direct arrangement with council.
“We are very excited to get a direct lease with the council, the best with any club is that security of tenure, for state government support,” he said.
“This will open up a lot of additional funding to upgrade the track and upgrade lighting and to replace one of our old structures.
“Our fees will now be substantially reduced but will still need to negotiate with the Show Society for carparking and use of the toilets.”
An overhaul Fred Moule Pavilion by adding an extra storey, commercial kitchens and airconditioning is expected to be first project advanced under the new 20 year deal.
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Originally published as Cairns Show Association granted 20-year lease of Cairns Showground
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