Page 38 - Tropic Magazine Issue 27

TROPIC • REPORT CARD

Report card

PROGRESS
Here’s an update on our Cairns
2030 wishlist, published in our
launch edition to spark debate
about the future of our city.

Way back in what feels like another
lifetime – our launch edition in 02. ANOTHER NATIONAL
September 2016 to be precise – the Tropic SPORTING TEAM
crew put together a vibrant vision for the WHAT WE SAID By 2030, we will be ready
future of Cairns. We called it Cairns 2030. for a second sporting team to join the
In the absence of a cohesive, exciting Taipans. Our very own A-League
plan for the city’s future by groups like team perhaps?
Advance Cairns and the Cairns Chamber UPDATE We note recent talk by Mayor
of Commerce, we spoke to a range of new Bob Manning of a joint Cairns-Papua
voices and emerging leaders to compile a New Guinea NRL team bid but little
comprehensive project wishlist. From the progress otherwise on a second national 07. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM SECTOR IN
arts to infrastructure, we wanted to spark sporting team. CAPE YORK
a conversation about what kind of city we WHAT WE SAID Better roads and
wanted Cairns to be in 2030. The goal? 03.THRIVING SMALL BAR SCENE AND airstrips, safer communities, and
To elevate Cairns into the world’s most LANEWAY CULTURE targeted business support are just some
liveable tropical city. In this report card, WHAT WE SAID By 2030 we hope small tangible ways to foster Indigenous
we reflect on our Cairns 2030 wishlist and bars, live music and active laneways are tourism experiences in the Cape.
check in on any progress flowing from it. the norm, rather the exception. UPDATE Despite the awesome potential,
UPDATE Huge progress has been made in little work seems to have been done to
01. CONVENTION CENTRE IS EXTENDED this area, led by small bar pioneers foster a cottage tourism industry in
WHAT WE SAID By 2030, we’d like to Three Wolves. the Cape.
see an extra 3000-4000 sq/m of floor
space at the Cairns Convention Centre to 04. MAJOR ROADS UPGRADE 08. GREAT BARRIER REEF IS
accommodate larger conferences. WHAT WE SAID Our major roads need ALIVE AND WELL
UPDATE That’s a yes! swift action before we reach crunch point WHAT WE SAID We imagine a bright
in 2030. and balanced future for the Reef where
UPDATE Work is well underway on tourism activity and sustainable
upgrades to the Captain Cook Highway fishing sits comfortably alongside
and the Bruce Highway Southern protective measures and global action on
Corridor, but progress on the Western anthropogenic climate change.
Arterial Road has been sorely lacking. UPDATE Since our 2030 wishlist was
published, groups such as Citizens of
05. A THIRD UNIVERSITY the Great Barrier Reef, Reef Restoration
WHAT WE SAID Could a third university Foundation and the Great Barrier Reef
player enter the education landscape by Foundation have emerged. Judging their
2030 – perhaps in the booming southern impact and effectiveness, however, is
corridor of Cairns? proving difficult.
UPDATE With the tertiary sector taking
a battering due to COVID-19, we’re some 09. MORE RESIDENTIAL LIVING IN THE
way off from welcoming a third uni to CAIRNS CBD
join James Cook and CQU. WHAT WE SAID The biggest hurdle to
creating consistent buzz and economic
06. PLANNING STARTED FOR CAIRNS activity in the Cairns CBD is the lack
AIRPORT’S SECOND RUNWAY of people living there. Empty nesters,
WHAT WE SAID While a second runway downsizers and millennials will
isn’t expected to be required for decades, increasingly look to live in our city centre
the planning and community support for over the next 15 years.
it should be well-entrenched by 2030. UPDATE Market conditions and red tape
UPDATE This project seemed to stall continues to restrict CBD development.
when former Cairns Airport CEO Kevin Some kind of action plan or strategy
Brown departed and economic reality by Cairns Regional Council to boost
struck in 2017. residential living in the CBD would help.

38 • Tropic • Issue 27