Cairns to become home of women’s sport

• Cairns is leveraging the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic legacy and the Barlow Park redevelopment to become Australia’s premier destination for women’s sport.
• A new action plan will attract major events, elite teams and more visitors while creating greater opportunities for local women and girls in sport.
• Key initiatives include developing a landmark annual women’s sporting event, a new investment program, stronger partnerships and upgraded sporting facilities.

Cairns is one step closer to becoming Australia’s premier destination for women’s sport, with a bold new vision set to deliver major events, world class facilities, stronger community participation and significant economic benefits for the region.

Backed by a dynamic ten-point action plan, the initiative positions Cairns to capitalise on the momentum of women’s sport and the opportunities created by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Cairns Regional Council today endorsed the “Cairns the Premier Destination for Women’s Sport Action Plan”, a long-term roadmap to attract elite competitions, grow grassroots participation and strengthen Cairns’ reputation on the national and international stage.

Key priorities include securing major women’s sporting events, creating a flagship annual event for the region, attracting investment and ensuring future sporting infrastructure supports women and girls at all levels.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said it’s about young girls growing up in Cairns being able to see opportunities, pathways and possibilities for themselves right here at home.

“From the very beginning, I have believed this represents a genuine opportunity for Cairns, not only in terms of major events and economic benefits, but in creating long-term pathways and possibilities for women and girls in our community.”

“It places Cairns in a strong position to attract major events, investment, strategic infrastructure, partnerships and future grant opportunities while also strengthening participation and visibility for women’s sport at every level.

The action plan builds on significant momentum already achieved, including the AFLW Northern Nest partnership, major upgrades to Barlow Park and support for the North Queensland Cowboys Community Development and High-Performance Centre, which will accommodate the club’s NRLW program in Cairns.

Cr Eden said the action plan is the roadmap for how we turn that ambition into something practical, strategic and achievable.

“This Action Plan is a really important next step for our city and something I believe the broader community can genuinely get behind and be proud of as we build toward Brisbane 2032 and beyond.”

By 2032, the initiative aims to deliver more events throughout the year, increased participation, improved sporting facilities and stronger destination appeal for Cairns.