Operations and budget
Operating a budget of more than $312 million (2020/21) and a Capital Works Program worth $181 million, Cairns Regional Council is a significant local economic driver. It is also one of the region's largest employers with a workforce of approximately 1250 staff.
Management structure
Cairns Regional Council has adopted a high level organisational management structure, with six departments headed by General Managers and all reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Daily operational responsibilities rest with the Executive Team, headed by the Chief Executive Officer. The Executive Team is devolved the responsibility to implement adopted Council policy and the Operational Plan, and oversees Council's operations with the assistance of branch managers.
Executive Team
Council's Executive Management Team is made up of:
![]() | Acting Chief Executive Officer, Christine PosgateCouncil's Chief Executive Officer has six General Managers reporting directly as members of the Executive Team. |
General Manager Community, Sport and Cultural Services, Linda KirchnerResponsibilities: Creative venues and facilities including Tanks Arts Centre and Cairns Performing Arts Centre. Arts and cultural development including the Regional Arts Development Fund and Cairns Festival. Delivery of sport, recreation and leisure facilities and services including caravan parks, camping grounds, swimming pools, footpaths, and cycleways. Cairns Botanic Gardens and Sugarworld Parklands. Delivery of programs for Green Space Our Place (volunteer gardeners), Go Clubs (support for community organisations) and Active Living (free fitness on the Esplanade). Management of Cairns Esplanade, City Place, and Munro Martin Parklands. Provision of library services; community development services and support. Read more about the Community, Sport and Cultural Services Department | |
![]() | Chief Financial Officer, Lisa WhittonResponsibilities: Finance, Information Services, Cairns Shared Services and Procurement. Read more about the Finance Department |
Acting General Manager Human Resources and Organisational Change, Rebecca JonesResponsibilities: Human resource management, marketing and communications, corporate services management, organisational change, industrial relations, work health and safety, Disaster Management. Read more about the Human Resource and Organisational Change Department | |
![]() | General Manager Infrastructure Services, Bruce GardinerResponsibilities: Capital works preconstruction and delivery; infrastructure planning; works investigations; construction of roads, drains and minor works; maintenance of roads, drains, parks, foreshores, buildings and minor works; management of the Partnership Cairns program; design and survey services; disaster management; and management of Council's fleet and mechanical services. Read more about the Infrastructure Services Department |
Acting General Manager Planning and Environment, Peter BoydResponsibilities: integrated development assessment; development engineering; strategic land use planning; regional planning; environmental planning; building regulation and certification; environmental protection; public and environmental health; property and administration, FNQROC, mosquito and vector control; cemeteries; Local Laws; regulated parking. Read more about the Planning and Environment Department | |
![]() | General Manager Water and Waste, Mark WuthResponsibilities: Water treatment and reticulation; wastewater treatment and reticulation; collection, treatment and disposal of waste; infrastructure planning, design and project delivery; corporate and external reporting. Read more about the Water and Waste Department |