Page 47 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15
P. 47
INDUSTRY • BRIEFING
Renovation take-off
A $55-million upgrade of the domestic
terminal at Cairns Airport began in
August, and passengers are already
enjoying new dining and drinking
options. The plans also include a
10,000 square metre expansion and
more seating in the departures hall, to
cater for an expected 40% growth in
passenger traffic over the next decade.
The work is set for completion in 2020.
Nova goes up
With a Council-declared deadline
looming, groundworks on the site began
in April at the $550 million Nova City
development. Foundation piling work
is now in place, but a lead construction
company is yet to be announced. Here’s
hoping 2019 will finally see the start
of construction on the 17-storey Nova
Light, which features 187 apartments,
more than half of which have reportedly
been sold.
Hub Love
In 2018, the State Government called
for expressions of interest from
potential developers for the $1 billion
Global Tourism Hub in Cairns. It’s now
reviewing a short-list of 12 Australian
and international proponents, which
include the Reef Hotel Casino as the
incumbent operator. Local businesses
have also been asked to register their
interest. The preferred proponent is
expected to be announced in the second
half of 2019 and construction could
begin in 2020.
Year in review Economy High-profile visits
We may not have seen glamour royal
As we enter a new year, Crystalbrook dawns couple Prince Harry and Meghan in the
The first of three Crystalbrook
flesh, but in April we did welcome their
Tropic looks back at 2018 Collection hotels being built in Cairns dad, Prince Charles who came to Cairns
to select our highlights in opened for business in November. The as part of his Commonwealth Games
$130 million five star Riley resort has 311
commitments. That was followed just
politics, the economy, arts, rooms as well as conference facilities, recently by US Vice President Mike
the food scene and sport. three restaurants, a rooftop bar, day Pence, among other world leaders, as
spa and gym and has created more they used our city as a staging post for
than 120 jobs. Crystalbrook’s two other the APEC summit in PNG. Tourism
Cairns hotels, Bailey and Flynn, are operators hope the visits deliver more
scheduled to open in 2019. tourists from the respective countries.
47 • tropicnow.com.au
