Land acquired for CBD parking

Cairns Regional Council has announced the purchase of a 5361 square metre parcel of land on Kenny Street, with the intention to provide expanded carparking facilities in the CBD.

The land, adjacent to an existing Council-controlled carpark, was purchased for $2.6 million.

Acting Mayor Terry James said the Council was aware of concerns regarding carparking options in and around the Cairns city centre.

“There is a demand for off-street parking and this acquisition goes a long way toward meeting these demands,” Cr James said.

“We will be making available about 160 extra car spaces for all-day parking.”

The area will be levelled and covered with bitumen, before line-marking and installation of lighting and fencing occurs.

Quotations for this work are currently being obtained by Council.

“We hope that this work can be carried out during the next few months – we want to have the carpark operational as quickly as possible,” Cr James said.

Division 5 Councillor Richie Bates said any move to increase carparking would prove positive.

“For those who work in the Cairns CBD, access to all-day parking is somewhat limited. This has been a strategic purchase that will help to alleviate this problem in the short term, while we look toward more long-term parking solutions,” Cr Bates said.

Operation of the area for regulated parking will require amendments to the relevant Local Law, for which public consultation will occur.