Page 63 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • OPINION

Shaun Donaldson
Director
Halpin Partners

Good news

Whilst it is easy to get caught in a negative mindset,
particularly coming off the back of a soft period for the local
economy, the Advance Cairns-led launch of regional investment
priorities reinforced some of the great things Cairns has got
going for it.
Number one priority is the reef and rainforest and associated
tourism. Yes, we are right to want to diversify our economy to
not solely rely on tourism, but the reality is we have sensational
natural assets and a great tourism sector, so we’d be crazy not
to maximise on this.
Our agriculture sector is also world-class. The Tablelands is a
Nikki Huddy well-known national horticulture leader that continues to go
Managing Director ahead in leaps and bound. Throw in the Lakelands development
Planz Town Planning and some exciting new crop trials, including cotton, and it
is clear to see this sector will continue to grow and drive our
regional economy.
Plan to debate An area that is not well understood and provides many jobs
today with the possibility of many more in the future, is our
I once contacted the host of a podcast to see if I could do a story marine precinct. In HMAS Cairns, we have Northern Australia’s
about Cairns. The response was “No - we only talk about cities”. only naval base. The base is planned for significant growth into
I was stunned. The city-region divide is increasingly real, as the future, partly driven by regional factors and the new pivot
we saw in the 2019 Federal Election. Cities - for policy makers to the Pacific. When this is overlayed with the great businesses
and politicians - are where millions of people live, rather than currently operating and the growth that is possible through
200,000 people live. This is a concern and a challenge for places superyachts, tourism and other regional opportunities, it is
like Townsville, Cairns, Darwin and Hobart all with 170,000 easy to see our Marine precinct growing rapidly.
to 200,000 people, and also places like Bundaberg, Gladstone, For some people it is hard to marry up this positive outlook
Mackay, Rockhampton with populations of 40,000 to 80,000. with what they perceive is happening currently. So, what needs
Cairns will have another 300,000 people within 30 years. This to change?
will require additional housing, stadiums and performing Personally, I believe we need to get the good news out there.
arts centres, new dams, and new sewerage treatment plants. Recently news about Cairns has been dominated by stories
Significantly, if you think parking is bad now, we are not going to of the death of the Barrier Reef, natural disasters and high
be able to fit the cars for 300,000 more people into our existing unemployment. Our good news stories and opportunities are
road network. Public transport will need to be retrofitted into not well understood outside the region (and in some cases in
the urban footprint. the region). This needs to change.
All great cities have public transport, going back to before the We also need a united front as a region and long-term goals
car. In contrast, regional towns and cities have little to no public for the next 5, 10 and 15 years. If our regional leadership can
transport and getting this right is going to hurt, and we are address this, we are in for an exciting time in Australia’s most
going to need to be open-minded. global regional city.
The questions for us, the citizens, the commuters, the business
owners, families - are we ready and informed enough to MORE: halpinpartners.com.au
participate in the discussion that shapes the city our kids will
live and work in? Do we know what we need to ensure that the
lifestyle we value today is better - or at least no worse - for the
people of Cairns in 30 years’ time? How do we ensure that we
move beyond just another ‘study or report’ and get development
on the ground that reflects and builds upon our local preferences
and capabilities?
The current situation has galvanised my drive to ensure that we
understand planning and that we can participate in the planning
process. Inspired to rally against mediocracy, let’s have the
conversation #mediocrecity.
As Dr Seuss wrote: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful
lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
MORE: planztp.com

63 • tropicnow.com.au