Page 65 - Tropic Magazine Issue 26

TROPIC • INFRASTRUCTURE

LOTS OF TALK LITTLE ACTION
In 2011, Cairns Regional Council
commissioned a $100,000 feasibility
study on a stadium for the city. Despite
identifying significant demand for a
stadium and 20 potential locations,
momentum for the project quietly
fizzled out.
In the lead-up to the 2016 council IS THE TIMING RIGHT?
election, the stadium was a key promise Contrary to the cautious approach of
of Cr Manning’s Unity Team campaign. the current Mayor, Mr Byrne believes BROADER BENEFITS
At the time, he told local media: “I it’s time to stop the dithering and get on Cr Manning’s position on the rectangular
will go as far as saying there will be a with funding and delivering the sporting stadium is forged by a combination of the
new stadium within the next term of precinct vision. negative findings in consultant reports,
council. I can say, hand on heart, we "In presenting this proposal, we are the economic impact of the coronavirus
are moving towards it.” Once elected in mindful that in the immediate post
March of that year, the Unity-led council COVID landscape, governments are pandemic and his reputation for
delivering low rates and balanced books.
commissioned another study – this time likely to prioritise larger commitments And it’s certainly true that the ongoing
costing $200,000 – into the project. But of funding to those projects that operational costs of large sports stadiums
after the study found a stadium would demonstrate community need, Local are financial burdens, no matter which
not stack up financially for the city, along Government support, phased project
with fierce opposition from the Cairns implementation and a local ability to city they’re located in. Just see the angst
and outrage over the business cases for
Show Association who were concerned deliver the project," he said. the Townsville and Sydney stadiums
they’d be relocated, the project was again "This ticks all those boxes and by in recent years for proof. Like most
shelved. In 2019, a rectangular stadium comparison to similar stadium projects, large infrastructure projects funded
precinct was included in the Council’s can be delivered at a fraction of the
City Deal Proposal, a wide-ranging cost. We believe there is an opportunity by the public purse however, the direct
upfront and ongoing costs need to be
infrastructure package that requires now to tap into Federal Government balanced out with the broader economic
cooperation and funding from all three funding, to be matched by counterpart and community benefits. That’s what’s
levels of government. There hasn’t been funding from the State Government, missing in the local stadium debate.
a City Deal signed anywhere in Australia and matched by Cairns Regional Council
since early 2019, and it’s unclear whether whose contribution would include the We’ve heard the reasons it shouldn’t
happen. Perhaps it’s time to consider the
the Federal Government-led program land component. This will not only be a bigger picture.
will still be active long enough to fund stadium for rectangular sporting events
the Cairns proposal, a package of 19 key but also a stadium for large scale public
projects first put forward more than events such as concerts and community FOLLOW THE STADIUM
a year ago. events like Relay for Life." DEBATE: tropicnow.com.au

65 • tropicnow.com.au