Page 49 - Tropic Magazine Issue 16

INDUSTRY • FEATURE

31 CQUni to launch new MSF Sugar turns on its

flight school
September saw CQUniversity 39 green power station
committing to invest $4.8 million to
establish stage one of the Asia-Pacific MSF’s green power station was a little
Aviation Education and Research hub slower than expected to be turned
in Cairns, which will include a flight on, but is now pumping 200,000
simulator to train students at Cairns megawatts of electricity annually into
36 Cairns FC has plans to build a similar plant at its
Airport. It should be completed by April. Reinvigoration of the Ergon Energy grid. The company
South Johnstone Mill, as well as a bio-
32 Macro-economic Despite all hopes of an exciting new refinery at its Tablelands mill, which
will make bio-fuels and bio-plastics.
era, the 2018 season proved to be the
trends are positive
last for Cairns FC, formerly known
Macro-economic trends continue to be as FNQ Heat. It handed its licence
positive. The Queensland Investment back to the National Premier League,
Corporation says growth in the following long-term concerns about
Australian economy was higher than its viability.
predicted at 3%. We also have strong
public sector spending and growth in
net exports, however, we have a tepid
private sector with falling business
investment, declining new home
building and slow consumer spending.

33 Northern Australia

gets funding
Despite the Northern Australia
Infrastructure Facility offices being
based in Cairns, our region hasn’t had
much luck so far in securing loans.
Three have been granted for WA, two
for the NT and the only Queensland 37
one is for a technology innovation 40 Cairns Marine
complex at JCU’s Townsville Campus. Precinct
Government pushes Cairns as The Cairns Marine Precinct’s updated
34 Remember Frank Global Tourism Hub master-planning is expected to
run through until the end of 2019,
Expressions of interest went out
Gelber’s prediction
in 2018 for a developer for the buoyed by the Federal Government
Frank Gelber’s prediction was that Global Tourism Hub and the State designating the port as ‘critical
cairns would be a boom town in 2020. Government has now short-listed 12 infrastructure.’ Consultation with
Yes, we’re right on track, with so many potential proponents, which include port users, other stakeholders and all
projects scheduled for completion. local, national and international levels of Government is now taking
companies. The hub is aimed at place.
delivering new tourism infrastructure,
including entertainment, dining and
35 Quicksilver set to open its retail in Cairns. Locals who want a
piece of the action have also been
Port Douglas dive center
asked to put in their EOIs.
Quicksilver’s state-of-the-art Learn to Dive
Centre officially opened in Port Douglas in
October. The $3.8 million facility will help 38 NDIS rolls out
more guests get underwater at Agincourt in TNQ
Reef.
The Cairns NDIS office opened in
November, providing a point of contact
for people negotiating the complex
scheme. More than 4,700 local people 41 We still live in the best
with disabilities are expected to join regional city in Australia
the NDIS before June to access the
supports and services they need to Yes, we do. Nothing’s changed there.
enjoy their life. In all, 2,000 jobs are
expected to be created to meet local
demand.
49 • tropicnow.com.au