Page 39 - Tropic Magazine Issue 27

TROPIC • REPORT CARD

14. AQUIS HAS OPENED ITS DOORS
WHAT WE SAID We hope we’re not
being too optimistic to think the Aquis
development will be built and operating
by 2030.
UPDATE Aquis may be off the table,
but we’ve seen three new hotels by
Crystalbrook Collection.

15. RECTANGULAR STADIUM
WHAT WE SAID It seems obvious that
Cairns needs a rectangular stadium to
10. SECOND HOSPITAL AND HEALTH match both our love of sport and our
PRECINCT
WHAT WE SAID Cairns Hospital is under growing population.
sustained pressure to cope with current UPDATE Little to no action, but a recent
demand and sooner or later authorities proposal for a sporting precinct including
need to bite the bullet and start building a a 20,000-seat stadium raises some hope.
second facility.
UPDATE Another tick for our list, 16. WATERFRONT SEAFOOD MARKET 18. CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR
sort of. The $25 million Cairns South WHAT WE SAID We love to imagine a PERFORMING ARTS
Health Facility in Edmonton was recently bustling weekend seafood market full of WHAT WE SAID We think there’s huge
opened, along with some political fresh local produce, small oyster bars and potential to grow the region’s creative
outdoor dining options.
progress on the Cairns University sector with a dedicated performing arts
Hospital. UPDATE No action here, though we’d still school.
love to see a section of the Cruise Liner
Terminal transformed into a waterfront UPDATE The Cairns Performing Arts
11. PROSPEROUS TOWNS ACROSS THE market. Centre was built after our wishlist was
REGION published, so the next logical step is a
WHAT WE SAID By 2030, we hope Centre of Excellence to help fill it with
townships to the south, west and north 17. PASSENGERS ALL ABOARD THE local talent.
are all reaping the flow-on benefits from CAIRNS LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM
the booming central hub of Cairns. WHAT WE SAID The vision of a light rail 19. ACCESS TO EXPORT MARKETS FOR
UPDATE Spots like Gordonvale and towns system zipping around Cairns was a key OUR AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
promise of Mayor Bob Manning at the
on the Tablelands are doing relatively well WHAT WE SAID We’d like to see facility
but more could be done to foster cottage 2016 council election. upgrades at Cairns Airport to allow our
industries (tourism, manufacturing, UPDATE This idea was abandoned region to capitalise on exports by 2030.
innovation, agriculture) in outlying areas. long ago by the Manning-led Council, UPDATE Great progress on this item with
citing our small population as the key
impediment to usage. $10 million in state funding allocated to
12. INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED build an export facility at Cairns Airport.
ANNUAL FESTIVAL
WHAT WE SAID The reef and rainforest 20. FOCUS ON TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE
will always be our global selling points WHAT WE SAID By 2030, we’d love to see
but we’d love to see a homegrown festival more homes and buildings reflect our
reach global renown as well, whether it’s heritage – and our future – as the globe
in film, food, art or music. tilts towards the tropics.
UPDATE Events were wiped out in 2020 UPDATE More focus is required on
due to COVID-19, but 2021 is looking building for the tropics with architecture
promising with a bigger and better and urban design to match our climate
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair and (we hope) and lifestyle. Cairns Regional Council
the return of Grass is Greener. should play a stronger role in this regard.

13. WANGETTI TRAIL IS BUILT
WHAT WE SAID The grand vision of
building a track from Cairns to Port
Douglas would see our emerging
reputation as a mountain biking hub soar
even higher.
UPDATE A big tick for this one, with work
underway on the $41.4 million project.

39 • tropicnow.com.au