Advocacy Priorities Infrastructure

Cairns Marine Precinct

The Cairns Marine Precinct secured a major funding commitment this year, with the federal and state governments each pledging $150m ($300m total) towards major port infrastructure upgrades, including a Common User Facility at the precinct. The announcement followed recommendations from the Cairns Marine Precinct Expansion Detailed Business Case, released January 2022. Progress is also underway on the state government’s $32m early works to deliver in-water maintenance berths for the CMP, which involves the construction of two new wharves to upgrade services and improve the precinct’s overall capacity.

Advance Cairns now seeks delivery of the $300m, a commitment of $24m across two years for upgrades to the city's three shipyards, and delivery of upgrades to HMAS Cairns as part of the $155m package to support Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels.

Cairns University Hospital Redevelopment

Following James Cook University’s move to buy a critical piece of land in North Cairns in 2021, the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) has secured a parcel of the site for further expansion of Cairns Hospital. Advance Cairns has doubled down on its push for this significant project for the region. Progress is currently underway for Phase 1: Optimise and Innovate, with the state government committing $4.4m to undergo a full business case as well as an additional $15m for land acquisition.

Advance Cairns will request full funding as per the business case’s recommendations following its completion and evaluation.

Our 2022 State Budget submission also called for $9m in urgent funding for a full business case for a new acute clinical service building and for subsequent recommendations from the business case to be fully funded by the state.

Education And Research

The new Federal Government committed $50m to establish a new CQUniversity campus in the Cairns CBD in the October 2022 Federal Budget. The funding came a year after the then-Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers made a pre-election promise at an Advance Cairns event in 2021. Also committed was funding for 20 Commonwealth Supported Places at James Cook University to enable students to complete the full Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery program in Cairns, as well as an additional 80 CSPs for students in rural and remote areas across Australia.

Advance Cairns is now seeking delivery of the $50m to construct the permanent, purpose-built CQU CBD campus capable of accommodating 4,000+ students. Advance Cairns is also pursuing allocation of 40 of the additional 80 CSPs committed in the budget, as well as federal government support to expand the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College, which would enable training for the Pacific patrol boat crew at TAFE.

CAIRNS AIRPORT – REBUILDING AVIATION

Following the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the local tourism industry and Cairns Airport more specifically, passenger numbers through the airport have begun to see gradual increases back to preCOVID figures. Cairns Airport data from FY2022 showed almost 2.7 million domestic and international passengers passed through the airport the airport in the 12 months to June 2022, up from just over 2.1 million in 2021 but still a long way from pre-COVID figures of 5 million in FY2019.

In February 2022 the state government announced a nationleading deal to invest $100m, matched dollar-for-dollar by Cairns International Airport and three other of the state’s largest airports, to secure flights and rebuild Queensland’s $6bn tourism industry. Advance Cairns will continue to support Cairns Airport, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the local tourism industry more broadly as they continue their recovery from COVID-19.

Food And Water Security

Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project was a big winner in 2022, receiving $215m (split 50:50) in the State and Federal Budgets. The project was flagged as a key priority by Cairns Regional Council’s Water Security Advisory Group, with the group highlighting that continued population growth means increased storage capacity is critical to secure the region’s water supply. Advance Cairns and Cairns Regional Council are now seeking urgent delivery of the funding.

Advance Cairns is also seeking federal funding for Etheridge Shire Agricultural and Irrigation Precinct Project and North Johnston River Diversion Scheme, as well as completion of the state government’s Regional Water Assessment for the Atherton Tablelands by early 2023.

Coastal Roads

Master planning for the Cairns Ring Road upgrade is currently underway and is expected to be completed in mid to late 2023. The project includes road widening and intersection upgrades to ease congestion and improve connectivity in the region. In addition, the $300m upgrade on Cairns Western Arterial Road that Advance Cairns also advocated for is progressing, with detailed design underway and construction to begin in mid-2023.

Tablelands Access

The Kuranda Range Road received a funding commitment of $210m in the October 2022 Federal Budget following strong advocacy from Advance Cairns. There have been 21 years of studies on the Kuranda Range Road, with most recommendations not implemented. As a result, safety, capacity and efficiency issues are now at a critical point.

Advance Cairns recommends that the federal government delivers upon its budget commitment and that, within that funding commitment, $21m is allocated for a preliminary evaluation and detailed business case into preferred alternative routes for this vital economic corridor.

Inland Roads

Tropical North Queensland’s inland roads such as the Savannah Way and the Kennedy Developmental Road are vital to enhancing the productivity of northern Australia and improving connectivity to southern markets. However, segments of unsealed road along these routes are limiting the economic value of the road links and isolating communities during the wet season.

Upgrading the remaining sections of the Savannah Way is estimated to require at least $39.8m annually over 10 years (including $94.1m that has already been committed). Advance Cairns is calling for the federal and state governments to commit and allocate the remaining project funding in equal portions over 10 years. In addition, $25m is sought from the federal government to seal the final 11km of the Kennedy Developmental Road and complete the White Cliffs realignment to seal this key route in its entirety.