FAQs

The Cairns Entertainment Precinct is the Cairns Regional Council’s priority infrastructure project: it will provide an enormous and much-needed stimulus to a local economy hit hard by the global financial crisis.

It will demonstrate that Cairns has the confidence to invest in its own future.

The construction of the Precinct will create hundreds of jobs over two years, as well as more than 50 full-time equivalent employees when operational.

The Precinct will also enhance the creative industries which are already one of Cairns’ major industries.

It will add to the region’s tourism offering for domestic and international guests, increasing average visitor nights and enhancing patronage at local cafes, restaurants and other tourist attractions.

It will assist business tourism, providing additional meeting and event space that will help to alleviate space pressure on the Cairns Convention Centre. This will enable Cairns to retain as many conference and convention bookings as possible.

Critically it will also allow Cairns regional residents of all ages, backgrounds and interests to participate in or enjoy diverse artistic and cultural performances in outstanding facilities, without leaving their own community.

The budget for construction of the Cairns Entertainment Precinct is set at $154.6 million, of which $40 million will come from the Federal Government and $57.3 million has been committed by Queensland’s Premier.

A preliminary $2.5 million allocated by the State Government has already been spent on business planning.

The balance of funding will come from the Cairns Regional Council.

The Cairns Entertainment Precinct is a Cairns Regional Council initiative being managed by Project Manager, Linda Cardew. Ms Cardew has a proven track record in managing projects of this size and nature with her most notable achievement being The Concourse, the newest civic project for Willoughby City Council in NSW.

Linda Cardew was the Project Director of Willoughby City Council's The Concourse since its official commencement in 2000. She was also responsible for the delivery of the public facilities within the complex including a concert hall, theatre, rehearsal spaces, civic hall, library, retail outlets and car parking that will service almost 800,000 residents in the northern Sydney region.

To date, The Concourse is the largest and most successful Local Government project in Australia. The planned Cairns Entertainment Precinct will then be the second Local Government project of this kind in the country. For more information on The Concourse visit www.theconcourse.com.au

Ms Cardew has an Honours degree in law, post graduate qualifications in urban estate management and a previous life as a violist in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She has worked for 20 years across all levels of government and community sectors, largely in the areas of property and strategic policy development.

The site opposite the current Cairns Civic Theatre, where Munro Martin Park is situated, is not Council-owned land.

Council maintains Munro Martin Park on behalf of the State Department of Environment and Resource Management.

Munro Martin Park was given consideration as a possible location for a replacement Civic Theatre, however detailed analysis of the site determined that it was not a viable option due to zoning restrictions.

Munro Martin Park is zoned for public not commercial use, which would be a requirement for the Cairns Entertainment Precinct. Under current zoning legislation (Open Space) it is deemed the park “… provide areas which are available to the general public primarily for passive recreation”.

No.

In a statement released by Ports North (15 June 2010) entitled Cairns Port’s Cargo, Ports North confirmed that facilities can still double in size with the Entertainment Precinct.

It was stated; “the proposed Cairns Cultural [Entertainment] Precinct is entirely compatible with the long standing CityPort Master Plan and the Seaport Strategic Plan”.

A Ports North spokesperson said that all existing operations would continue and there was ample space for expansion of the port’s traditional cargo operations as new trade and business opportunities arise.

“The Precinct will act as a major attractor for Cairns and is completely compatible with Cityport and SeaPort Plans.”

There is no rates rise directly linked to the Cairns Entertainment Precinct.

The Cairns Regional Council sets rates based on a wide range of financial priorities and not on individual projects.

Civil engineer consultants were contracted to assess the likelihood and impact of flooding and the stormwater drainage on the proposed Precinct site. A ‘Flood and Storm Surge’ report was prepared to determine minimum floor levels for the project’s buildings in accordance with current legislation. The report recommended floor levels of 3.35m AHD* for the performing arts building and 3.95m AHD for the museum to mitigate potential flooding.

* Australian Height Datum (AHD) is the term used to describe the reference level for defining ground levels in Australia. The level of 0.0m AHD is approximately sea level.