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REGIONAL OVERVIEW
InvestCairns
Projects in the pipeline Major projects will be a big part of the Cairns construction landscape over the next four years with an estimated $5 billion spending in the pipeline from both private and public sectors. They cover the spectrum of tourism, infrastructure, energy, education, health, retail, residential and recreation. Here’s what to expect, writes Roz Pulley
$200 million
BOTANICA: retirement resort and residential estate for over-50s at Caravonica. Under construction.
BRUCE HIGHWAY: $481m Stage 3, Southern Access Corridor, Edmonton to Gordonvale; $104m Stage 4, Kate St to Aumuller St. Under construction. CAIRNS AIRPORT: $55 upgrade of domestic terminal from 8000 to 10,000 sqm. Completion: Late 2020. CAIRNS CENTRAL: $60m upgrade. Myer relocation, new Woolworths, fresh food market hall. First major redevelopment in 20 years. Ready: Late 2020.
COUNCIL: $164.7m Cairns Regional Council capital works program. Roads, bridges, CBD upgrades, water and waste infrastructure, community, sport, cultural and tourism projects. Start: 2019-20 financial year. CQU: Ambitious $35m plan to build Queensland’s first comprehensive university high school with Cairns State High. Has spent $4.8m on first stage of Asia Pacific Aviation Hub at Cairns Airport. Seeking funding for Stage 2. CRYSTALBROOK: Syrian entrepreneur Ghassan Aboud is putting the final touches to Crystalbrook Collection’s 217-room $150m Bailey hotel and 303-room $150m Flynn. A further $150m development on the former Cairns City Library site between Lake and Grafton streets will include commercial facilities, apartments and a 3.5-star hotel. EAST TRINITY: $2.2m Mandingalbay Indigenous Tourism Precinct, under construction. Also planned, $39.5m new vessel, pontoon jetty and boardwalk. EDMONTON: $100m Edmonton Business and Industry Park. Retail, business, industrial premises, recreational facilities, green space. EDMONTON: $25m Cairns South Health Facility, Edmonton. Back-up for Cairns Hospital during cyclones and floods. Start: Late 2019. ELLIS BEACH: $100m eco resort with 221 rooms next to caravan park proposed by Melbourne-based Bellbird Park Developments. ELLIS BEACH SURF CLUB: $3.5m Federal Government grant to help relocate Ellis Beach Surf Lifesaving Club across Captain Cook Highway to beachside land. Application submitted to Cairns Regional Council. ESPLANADE: $16.5m dining precinct and Shields St beautification. ESPLANADE CENTRAL: $11m hotel above McDonalds restaurant with 76 rooms, a rooftop bar and views to Green Island.
CAPTAIN COOK HIGHWAY: $287.2 upgrade. Start: 2020.
FITZROY ISLAND: Bought by Doug Gamble for $8.5m in 2010. New designs being drawn up for Stage 2 works, including 20 rooms, gym, wellbeing centre, kids playground and a cinema.
C3 CAIRNS: $550m six-star city resort proposed by Gasparin Group. Three residential towers of 23-24 storeys, 795 apartments, street level retail. Approved 2016. No construction date.
GALLERY PRECINCT: $40m Cairns Gallery Precinct. Cairns Regional Council spent $5.75m buying heritage-listed Courthouse Hotel in 2016 and will spend $6.2m fixing defects. Still without state and federal funding.
COCA: $5m Centre of Contemporary Arts redevelopment for JUTE Theatre and KickArts. New facade, entry, office, studio spaces, theatre upgrade, improved gallery. Ready: December 2019. CONVENTION CENTRE: $176m Cairns Convention Centre upgrade and extension by Queensland Government. Start: May 2020.
1 billion
$
GLOBAL TOURISM HUB: potential, Deptartment of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development.
HARVEY NORMAN: $5m upgrade and expansion, Harvey Norman, Spence St, Cairns. HEALTH: Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service: $70m Mental Health Unit; $70m Atherton Hospital redevelopment; $5.6m Cairns ambulance station and operations centre redevelopment; $60m Federal Govt commitment to Cairns University Hospital, but dependent on State Government funding. JCU: $30m Cairns Innovation Centre. Threestorey education facility at James Cook University’s Smithfield Campus to enhance innovation and scientific activities. Ready: July 2020. JCU HIGH SCHOOL: Northern Beaches Secondary Catholic College. MOU signed by Catholic Education and James Cook University to build high school at JCU’s Smithfield campus. Opening: 2022. KUR-World: $650m eco-resort in Kuranda. Construction over nine years. Depends on upgrade of Kuranda Range Rd. Start: 2021/22. MSF SUGAR: $75m construction of green energy power plant, Atherton Tableland. Similar projects proposed for South Johnstone and Mulgrave mills.
$600 million
NAVY: The Federal Government has committed more than $600m to upgrade HMAS Cairns naval base.
NOVA CITY: $550m seven-tower project, Spence St, Cairns, by Singapore-based Aspial Corporation. Site preparation $48m, included 300-plus piles for first two towers. Builders invited to tender. Includes 1158 apartments, ground-floor entertainment, dining, retail. PORT DOUGLAS: $200m Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina redevelopment with 5-star hotel, luxury apartment complex, superyacht berths. Committed. PORTS NORTH: $127m Shipping Development Project. Dredging for 300m+ vessels, new shipping swing basin, wharf construction. Ready: Early 2020. Plus $19.58m foreshore development; Marlin Marina expansion $4.84m; Tingira St subdivision $14.8m. SMITHFIELD BYPASS: $152m two-lane, 3.8km road between McGregor Rd and Yorkeys Knob roundabouts to bypass Smithfield roundabout. Ready: Late 2020. SPINAL LIFE AUSTRALIA: $12m Healthy Living Centre will be the first of its kind in Queensland and regional Australia. Under construction. THE PALMS: $330m project to turn Paradise Palms golf course into residential estates, retirement village and more. Application lodged with Cairns Regional Council. Planned: 2020.