Budget
Cairns Regional Council's 2023-24 Budget was handed down at a Special (Budget) Meeting on Monday 19 June 2023.
Information on the current Budget and previous years' Budgets can be found below.
2023-24 Budget at a glance
- $433.5 million Budget
- $164.8 million Capital Works program
- $82.5 million on water infrastructure
- $51 million to service & maintain community assets
- 5.99% general rate rise
- 5.99% rise in sewerage, cleansing and water access charges
- 9 cents per kilolitre rise for commercial and residential water charges
Read more highlights below or download the one-page Budget summary document ( PDF, 0.45 MB ).
Economic stimulus
- $3.4m to promote Cairns as a premier tourism destination
- $1.3m to support and develop major sporting and entertainment events
- $6.1m in grants, subsidies and contributions for events, arts and cultural initiatives, marketing and economic development activities
- $1.7m to progress the Towards 2050 Growth Strategy
- $780,000 for Cairns Festival
Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, street lighting & drainage
- $4.5m for pavement rehabilitation
- $2.5m for kerb and channel and shoulder sealing
- $2m for road reseal program
- $2.6m on various drain and flood mitigation works
- $1.5m on erosion control measures at Holloways Beach and Clifton Beach
- $770,000 to upgrade lighting along roads and footpaths
- $475,000 for renewal, upgrade and expansion of CCTV network
- $445,000 for upgrade and maintenance of bridges
- $320,000 for upgrade of bus sites across the city
- $275,000 for cemetery improvements and upgrades
Infrastructure: Water & wastewater
- $24m to progress the Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project
- $5.7m to continue rollout of smart water meters
- $664,000 to finalise works for the Emergency Water Supply Plan
- $5.4m to continue construction of a new water storage reservoir at Mount Peter, Edmonton
- $4m to replace water mains at various locations as part of ongoing maintenance program
- $15.3m on upgrades and improvements to sewer pump stations and networks throughout the city
- $8.8m on improvements and upgrades to wastewater treatment plants
- $2.5m for annual sewer relining program
Parks, playgrounds & aquatic facilities
- $4.75m for the redevelopment of Kenrick Park, Gordonvale
- $700,000 for a refresh of Muddy's Playground
- $750,000 for renewal and upgrade of Redlynch Skate Park
- $270,000 for an accessible change facility at Esplanade Lagoon
- $300,000 to improve kids play area at Smithfield Pool
- $150,000 for works at Tobruk Memorial Pool
- $75,000 for upgrades to adventure and play areas at Sugarworld Parklands
Sporting, recreation and lifestyle facilities
- $6.8m for new lighting at Barlow Park
- $4.2 million to complete Northern Beaches Leisure Trail link from Clifton Beach to Kewarra Beach
- $1.8 million towards the new Trinity Beach Community Activity Space
- $1.4m for an expansion of Earlville Tennis Club courts
- $1.5 million for footpaths, pathways and to promote active travel
- $1.3 million for renewals and upgrades to libraries
- $100,000 to start designs for Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre in White Rock
Arts & culture
- $7.7 million this financial year to progress the Cairns Gallery Precinct
- $2 million for upgrades to the Tanks Arts Centre
- $831,000 lighting upgrades to the Cairns Performing Arts Centre
Last Updated: 19 June 2023
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