Council highlights advocacy wins

• Council has secured significant government investment for future infrastructure
• Olympic upgrades to infrastructure coming to Cairns in the leadup to 2032
• New Cairns Airport Link Bus Link, Mt Peter Priority Development Area and more confirmed for Cairns

Hundreds of millions of dollars for housing, water security and major infrastructure are among the significant advocacy outcomes secured for Cairns over the past two years.

With an emphasis on securing investment and government support for initiatives contributing to growth, housing security, tourism opportunities, and future-proofing the region, Council is now firmly focused on turning commitments into delivery.

Key achievements were highlighted in Council’s first Annual Advocacy Outcomes Report, tabled at Wednesday's Ordinary Meeting, including some of the most significant funding commitments in organisation’s history, including:

• $300 million for the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor and related housing enabling infrastructure, with funding managed by Economic Development Queensland (EDQ)
• $175 million in additional funding for ongoing construction and delivery of Cairns Water Security Stage 1, delivering a combined $390 million in total State and Federal funding
• $91 million Olympic-upgrade of Barlow Park
• Funding confirmed for a new Cairns Airport Bus Link connecting Cairns Airport to the CBD.

Commitments to major regional priorities including the Cairns Western Arterial Road, Captain Cook Highway, Barron River Bridge replacement and Cairns Marine Precinct have also been highlighted in the report.

Without this funding, the cost of delivering this infrastructure would fall back onto the ratepayer.

As a result of State and Federal Government funding partnerships, Council can deliver these crucial projects, along with additional housing and trunk infrastructure and disaster recovery.

Council thanks local State and Federal MPs and Ministers who have listened to the needs of our community and backed investment in Cairns.

The outcomes reflect a strong regional collaboration with partners including FNQROC, Advance Cairns, the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, RDA Tropical North and the Local Government Association of Queensland helping to keep Cairns and Far North Queensland priorities front and centre.

Council’s recently endorsed the 2026/27 State Budget Analysis report reinforced the need to maintain advocacy momentum, with Cairns still receiving less per capita capital investment than several comparable regional centres despite a welcome increase in State funding.

The 2024/25 and 2025/26 Annual Advocacy Outcomes Report reinforces a whole-of-Council approach to advocacy, reflecting a strategic cross-Council effort. The report is the first prepared under Council’s revised Advocacy Policy and captured advocacy associated with the most recent State and Federal elections.