ADVANCE CAIRNS - CAIRNS TNQ FEDERAL BUDGET SUBMISSION 2022-23 - Treasury
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ADVANCE
CAIRNS
OUR REGION ONE VOICE
THE COMMITTEE FOR TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND
CAIRNS TNQ FEDERAL BUDGET SUBMISSION 2022-23
FROM THE CHAIRMAN
NICK TROMPF
Forge / forge (vb.)
to create (something) strong, enduring or successful.
Oxford Dictionary
HOW THE FEDERAL BUDGET CAN BUILD RESILIENCE • Rebuilding international tourism via $30m for
FOR CAIRNS TNQ aviation attraction, $40m for destination marketing and
$10m for security upgrades at Cairns International Airport
Against the backdrop of the ongoing global pandemic,
leaders of business and industry in the Cairns region • Ensuring urban water security and opportunity for
have developed an integrated series of initiatives to drive agricultural growth through $250m+ investment
renewal, resilience and greater diversity in the far north’s
• Further upgrading capacity and connectivity of the
economy.
region’s key roads, as well as a strategic recommendation
This year’s Federal Budget will be pivotal in bringing to life to extend the National Highway A1 from Cairns’ northern
central elements of this Forging a Brighter Future plan. suburbs to the Atherton Tablelands
With COVID-19 continuing to disrupt key sectors such as We readily acknowledge the considerable investment by
tourism and hospitality for a considerable time ahead, the the Federal Government in the far north in recent years
integrated plan in this document provides opportunity for – highlighted by more than $1.5bn in road construction
renewal. underway, along with a host of other support measures such
as JobKeeper.
Opportunity for the Federal Government to build on its
already significant support by providing further backing for Despite this Federal support, the adverse impacts of
catalytic infrastructure and policy reform. COVID-19 on this region are starkly illustrated by a slump
in the Cairns labour force, which has shrunk by 4400* (or
And opportunity for the private sector to invest heavily off
-4.9%) people in work. This contrasts starkly with other QLD
the back of this government support, in both existing and
regions like the Gold Coast (+51,600* or 14.2%), Townsville
emerging industries.
(+8100* or 4.5%) and the Sunshine Coast (+2200* or
Central to this plan is creating jobs - in traditional & advanced 0.6%).
manufacturing, health & allied industries, ground-breaking
Regardless, business and industry leaders are absolutely
research, education, primary production & processing and
confident the long-term future for Cairns TNQ is bright –
civil construction.
and we look forward to the Federal Government providing
Defence is as a centrepiece, given heightening geopolitical much-needed, immediate impetus through investments
tensions in the south-west Pacific region, and the fact that outlined in this plan.
Cairns is home to Queensland’s only Navy base.
A brighter future will be forged for Cairns TNQ through with
Federal Budget support for the following:
• Building sovereign Defence capability through
transforming the Cairns port and expanding HMAS Cairns,
including a new $300-$400m common user facility
• Addressing actuate skills shortages through a
$50m new CBD campus for CQUniversity plus 80 CSPs in
medicine across James Cook University campuses in Cairns,
Townsville and Mackay
*Source: Conus Consulting/ABS monthly labour market indicators February 2020-September 2021
INFRASTRUCTURE & POLICY PRIORITIES
THE OPPORTUNITIES SUMMARISED BELOW ARE PIVOTAL TO HELP CAIRNS TNQ REBOUND FROM
THE DEVASTATING ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND, IMPORTANTLY, CREATE MUCH-NEEDED
DIVERSIFICATION AND RESILIENCE IN THE REGION’S ECONOMY.
INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY
CAIRNS MARINE PRECINCT - P4 REGIONAL HEALTH PLANNING - P18
Federal/State funding to fund construction $6m Federal funding palliative care hospice
of Common User Facility; $24m Federal and $10.5 million State recurrent operational
funding slipways; $155m HMAS Cairns; funding; Federal/State (50:50) funding chronic
condition care facility; 80 extra CSPs JCU
$28m State funding new wharves.
medical school.
EDUCATION & RESEARCH - P6 SPECIALIST BOAT BUILDING - P20
$50m Federal funding new CQUniversity CBD Cairns be recognised by Federal Government
as a high priority alternative for specialist boat
campus; $11.2m Federal funding Great Barrier building; State and Federal Governments
Reef International Marine College; 80 additional commit to working with SeaSwift to ensure
places JCU medical school. their vessel upgrades occur in Cairns.
CAIRNS AIRPORT - REBUILDING TNQ TOURISM RECOVERY FUND - P22
AVIATION - P8 $40m Federal funding destination marketing,
cruise shipping, domestic & international
$10m Federal funding infrastructure
airline partner support; State and Federal
upgrade Cairns Airport; $20m joint funding Government detailed roadmap to reopening
aviation attraction. international tourism into QLD and Cairns.
FOOD AND WATER SECURITY - P10 PACIFIC ENGAGEMENT - P24
State and Federal Governments facilitate DAs Operational headquarters in Cairns for
Lakeland Irrigation Area Project; $215m Federal/
DFAT Office of the Pacific; Cairns designated
State (50:50) Cairns Water Security - Stage 1;
$2m Federal funding Etheridge Shire Irrigation Australia’s northern hub for Step-Up to the
Project; $7m from NWIDF business case North Pacific.
Johnstone River diversion scheme.
COASTAL ROADS - P12 FRANCHISE REFORM - P26
Federal funding $527m Cairns Ring Road; Broaden automotive franchisee protections
State funding $132m Cairns Ring Road; to cover all motor vehicle categories;
strategic transport plan linking Cairns- extend some or all of these protections to
other franchisee categories.
Townsville.
TABLELANDS ACCESS - P14 FUTURE GROWTH - P28
Extend National Highway A1 from Smithfield $80m joint State and Federal funding
to Mareeba; $20m Federal/State (50:50) for the Strategic Integrated Urban
funding Kuranda Range Rd business case; Development and Transport Plan.
State to follow up on findings from Cairns to
Northern Tablelands Access Study.
INLAND ROADS - P16 ENHANCING URBAN LANDSCAPES - P30
$398m State and Federal funding over 10 $29.4m Federal Government commitment to
years Gulf Savannah Way; $25m Federal implementing the Enhancing Natural Urban
funding to complete upgrade Kennedy Landscapes - from Rainforest to Reef initiative.
Developmental Road.
03
INFRASTRUCTURE TO FORGE OUR FUTURE
CAIRNS TNQ REGIONAL PRIORITIES 2022-23
CAIRNS MARINE PRECINCT
COUNCIL: CAIRNS STATE ELECTORATE: CAIRNS FEDERAL ELECTORATE: LEICHHARDT
THE ISSUE Pacific engagement, signalling a key
change in Australia’s Defence posture as it
BRIEFING NOTE The Cairns Marine Precinct (CMP) is
prioritises the Indo-Pacific region.
SUMMARY a critical enabler of the Tropical North
Under the Security of Critical Infrastructure
Queensland (TNQ) economy, supporting
• The Cairns Marine Precinct Act (2018), the Cairns port is a critical national
Australia’s strategic Defence and foreign
is vital for the economic infrastructure asset. The port includes HMAS
diversification of the Tropical policy initiatives, as well as border and
Cairns, Australia’s most northern naval
North Queensland region fisheries, tourism, and maritime trade
base on the eastern seaboard, and it plays
that has been hard hit by operations. The precinct is home to a
a key strategic role in Australia’s northern
COVID-19. large and diverse marine sector with 1603
naval capability. In acknowledging this
commercial vessels across tourism, fishing
• Cairns is a strategic port role, in 2017-2018 the Federal Government
and shipping, and cruising yacht sectors,
for Defence. The Navy committed to upgrading the precinct through
in addition to several Royal Australian Navy
has announced it requires staged investment.
(RAN) and Australian Border Force (ABF)
its planned Regional There is unmet and growing demand
vessels. The precinct also hosts superyachts
Maintenance Centre (RMC) in naval, commercial and superyacht
and cruise liners visiting the Pacific. COVID-19
North-East in Cairns to begin maintenance opportunities that supports a
exposed the fragility of Cairns’ tourism-based
operating by 2022 – the first of step change in ship sustainment capacity
economy, and the continued growth of
four new RMCs in Australia. in the CMP. As outlined in Table 1, this
the Marine Precinct is critical for economic
investment needs to cater for larger vessels
• The Federal and State diversification in the region. A sustainable
(up to 120m), have ship-lift capacity of
Governments work together marine capacity to ensure that both strategic
3500-5000 tonnes, provide up to 350m
to deliver a $300-$400m Defence priorities and industry needs are
of extra wharf, see multiple large vessels
Common User Facility met is vital to provide growth and jobs for the
as a centrepiece of fully simultaneously in dry dock, and allow
TNQ region.
developing the precinct considerable extra land for sustainment
Over the past few years, growing tensions
infrastructure and tomorrow’s activities.
between the United States and China have
workforce. The State Government business case
elevated the strategic importance of the
released in January 2022 has identified
• A commitment is needed to Pacific, and Australia is now more than ever
necessary infrastructure and skills
provide long-term continuous a frontline player in terms of engagement
requirements to ensure future growth
sustainment programs and to and development of the region. Australia’s
and development in the precinct. This
support the re-development Step-Up to the Pacific program, which sees
includes a common user facility, accessible
of ship and boat building in engagement in the Pacific as one of the
by all shipyards. It is essential that a $300-
the precinct. highest priorities of Government, is tied to the
$400m commitment to fund the required
2017 Foreign Policy White Paper and commits
infrastructure is made by both the Federal and
Australia to a more ambitious level of
QLD Governments.
A commitment to long-term continuous
maintenance programmes by the RAN will
assist the individual shipyards to forward
plan in their own businesses and give
them the ability to make investments in
their own infrastructure. Understanding
the opportunities in specialist boat and
shipbuilding will also allow further private
investment and give the security to individual
businesses of a pipeline of continuous work in
the marine precinct.
The CMP expansion needs to be
complemented by a significant step up in
industry workforce skills and training, both
within the shipyards and also within the
sector’s support industries. To support the
CMP, there is a major role for training to
upskill existing workers and contextualise
training for the marine sector, and to recruit
and grow the workforce through stronger
Pictured: The proposed Common User Facility for the Cairns Marine Precinct. training pathways.
04
BACKGROUND commitments of servicing vessels from HMAS
NEXT STEPS
The Cairns region has the largest marine To ensure further growth and job
Cairns, Darwin, the United States, and the creation in the region, to attract greater
services sector in Northern Australia, and has
Pacific Islands. private investment, and to enable Defence
a skilled, year-round permanent marine and
The State Government business case to achieve their strategic goals, the
engineering workforce of 4600 across 270
(released January 2022) highlights that one following commitments for the Cairns
organisations. Marine Precinct are needed to facilitate a
in six vessels in Australia over 15m – and four
In 2017 the Federal Government committed transformation in the overall capacity and
in five NQ registered vessels – are serviced in
to a Phase 1 $24 million investment into Ports capability of the precinct:
Cairns. The business case also highlights the • $300-$400m Federal/State investment
North Leaseholds to enhance and modernise
existing shipyards are at or near capacity and in infrastructure and support as outlined by
the three shipyards within the Cairns Marine
that future demand will not be met with current the Cairns Marine Precinct business case
Precinct. In 2020, the State Government
capabilities. released in January 2022.
committed $28M for increased wharf capacity • A commitment from Defence to provide
Without a significant step-up in infrastructure
as well as $2M for the detailed business case additional vessels in Cairns and long-term
and capability at the Cairns Marine Precinct,
to inform a step-change within the precinct. continuous maintenance and sustainment
existing operators may not be able to compete
The CMP is Australia’s maintenance centre programmes.
for all future sustainment contracts, and/or • Support for ongoing innovation and
for the RAN’s hydrographic vessels as well as
maintain or grow their business. This will result re-establishment of a boat and small ship
Australian Border Force Cape Class vessels. It
in a potential decline in market share and building industry in the precinct.
has serviced the Defence, Border Force, and
loss of economic opportunity, while overall • Consideration of a virtual sustainment
marine industries for many years and, as home college through the Great Barrier Reef
regional activity levels in allied industries
to Fleet Base Pacific (HMAS Cairns), is one International Maritime College. The
will also sharply decline. The objectives of
of the few ports in Australia that can offer the College will develop and deliver agile
the Defence Industrial Capability Plan are to micro credentials that meet future Defence
Department of Defence significant expansion
broaden, deepen and grow the industrial base sustainment demands (see Education &
opportunities in berth and land facilities. RAN
of Defence to enhance Australia’s national Research priority).
is currently undertaking long-term planning for
security.
HMAS Cairns, and, in conjunction with Ports
North Master Planning and the marine precinct
business case, are looking at expansion of INFRASTRUCTURE SHORT TERM LONGER TERM
the current site as well as future purpose and Capability (vessels) Vessels to 120m LOA - Vessels 150m to 175m LOA –
requirements for the base. homeported RAN fleets and majority of majority RAN fleet/maximal commercial
regionally based commercial vessels vessel opportunities
The CMP will be the first of four new
Lift out capacity (shiplift/ 3500 to 5000 tonnes capacity 8000 tonnes capacity
Regional Maintenance Centres (RMCs) for the dock)
Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as part of Plan Berth length 3 to 4 vessels at any one time; additional 800m to 1km of quayside, separate
Galileo. The RMC North-East will provide a berth of 150 – 350m superyacht berth facility comprising
floating pontoons
national naval sustainment and maintenance
Extra yard and warehouse 3 to 4 vessels up to 120m LOA; 5 hectares 6 – 8 hectares of additional land for
hub, enabling the CMP to build on its present facilities, plus out of water of additional land + SPMT corridors; vessel lay down purposes, separate
capacity additional paint/blast workshops; ability landside areas for superyacht
to sub-divide land areas for a security/ maintenance and refits (up to 3
ship type purposes hectares)
OUR RECOMMENDATION
ESTIMATED
• That the Federal Government commits to deliver the outcomes of PROJECT COST 2021 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024 -
the Cairns Marine Precinct expansion project business case with 2022 2023 2024 2025
$607M
investment as outlined in the Cairns Marine Precinct business case. FUNDING REQUIRED
• Defence investment in HMAS Cairns, including a commitment to
Construction of Common
base and sustain additional vessels in Cairns. User Facility in CMP - $30M $50M $100M
• That the Federal Government commits $24 million for stage 2 (Federal/State)
capacity increases within the three existing shipyards, in time for Stage 2 shipyards request
the Regional Maintenance Centre North-East starting operation in (Federal) $24m
2022. FUNDED, DELIVERY
• That the Queensland Government supports and facilitates the
HMAS Cairns infrastructure $20m $50m $45m $40m
Federal expansion of HMAS Cairns, ensuring the Department of (Federal)
Defence delivers on the initial $155 million upgrade of the navy
CMP wharf improvements
base by 2025. (State)
$28m
• That the QLD Government $2m business case be completed by
end of 2021 and the $28 million for early works to deliver in-water
maintenance berths for the Cairns Marine Precinct expansion be
constructed by the end of 2022.
05
INFRASTRUCTURE TO FORGE OUR FUTURE
CAIRNS TNQ REGIONAL PRIORITIES 2022-23
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH
COUNCIL: CAIRNS STATE ELECTORATE: CAIRNS FEDERAL ELECTORATE: LEICHHARDT
THE ISSUE premises across Cairns. The proposed new
campus will allow the consolidation of these
BRIEFING NOTE Tropical North Queensland has a dynamic
sites.
and vibrant education sector with two
SUMMARY universities, six TAFE campuses, 35 secondary
TAFE Queensland: The Great Barrier
• Tropical North Queensland’s Reef International Marine College (GBRIMC)
schools, and a number of private language
education sector includes two continues to grow and expand its range of
and business schools. In 2019/20, nearly
universities, six TAFE campuses, innovative marine training capabilities. With
13,000 people were employed in education
35 secondary schools, and the growth in Cairns as a strategic marine
and training in TNQ, contributing $900M to
private language and business defence hub and a renewed focus on the
the economy, an increase of 200% in 5 years1.
schools. Pacific as part of the Step-Up to the Pacific
The region is shifting towards a knowledge-
• Youth unemployment sits at programme, the Department of Defence
based economy, which has implications for
12.6% and the region faces a awarded the contract for Pacific Maritime
educators and regional training facilities. To
skills shortage in health, allied Training Services (PMTS) to TAFE Queensland
accommodate the shift, the sector has invested
health, aviation, and a number and the GBRIMC in March 2021. This
hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure
of other STEM professions. programme will enable GBRIMC to provide all
in recent years, and a number of additional
technical and non-technical training, as well as
• Two key infrastructure projects projects are flagged for investment.
pastoral care services to Pacific Island Country
have been identified to address With a strong student base now established,
crew who have been gifted Guardian Class
regional skills shortages, CQUniversity (CQU) and James Cook University
with $50 million sought for a patrol boats from the Australian Government,
(JCU) continue to grow in the Cairns region.
permanent new CQUniversity estimated to be 320 crew annually.
Through collaborative partnerships and to
campus in the Cairns CBD and JCU: Building on 30 years of commitment
address current gaps in education pathways,
$11.2M for the Great Barrier to Cairns and the Far North, James Cook
the two universities are working to build
Reef International Marine University proposes to expand Cairns-based
capacity across a range of industries and
College expansion. activity to ensure that students can study a
community initiatives.
full medical degree in Cairns. Currently, JCU
• The CQU campus project is CQU: Since commencing on-campus
only offers years 1-6 of its medical degree in
shovel-ready and will create an delivery in Cairns in 2016, CQU Cairns has
estimated 330 jobs (direct and Townsville, while Cairns is limited to years 4-6.
experienced more than 20% year on year
indirect) during construction This means that future medical students are
growth2. Given this, it has outgrown its current
and contribute $549 million to required to leave Cairns to commence their
premises and requires new purpose-built
the regional economy over 10 studies elsewhere. Research has shown that
facilities. As part of its 2019 Community Impact
years. The project will address once students leave regional areas they often
Plan, CQU has a shovel-ready project to build
current skills shortages in do not return. It is vital that Cairns and TNQ
a permanent new CQU Cairns CBD campus
allied health, engineering, and retain their local talent in the region and have a
($50M for construction/fit out).
technology. full year 1-6 medical program.
CQU currently operates from four leased
• Regional medical shortages
will also be addressed by James
Cook University by establishing
a complete medical school in
Cairns, with support sought for
80 designated Commonwealth
Supported Places for domestic
students, enabling students to
complete JCU’s full Bachelor of
Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
program in Cairns.
06
BACKGROUND pre-loading, construction of new
classrooms, and a simulator suite.
The TNQ region has an estimated
resident population of 286,873 and
population growth of 1.1% per annum. The
attainment of a university degree in Cairns
is 54% lower than the national average at
14.3%, while 8.5% of residents have an
Advanced Diploma or Diploma and 22.9%
have a Vocational Certificate, on par with
the rest of the state3.
In September 2021, the youth (15-24
years) unemployment rate stood at 11.7%4.
While Cairns has two universities, access
to appropriate courses and pathways
into university is critical in bridging the
high youth unemployment rate and
encouraging young people to enter the
workforce.
hub precinct in the Cairns CBD. The pre-loading, construction of new
Nationally over the next five years, an
close proximity to the Convention classrooms, and a simulator suite. The
additional 85,000 health workers and
Centre provides an important link for cost of this extension is expected to
28,000 educators will be needed to fill
conference organisers and allows for be $11.2 million. This extension will
jobs in regional areas. COVID-19 has also
greater co-operation with regard to allow the provision of services to the
exacerbated shortages in other sectors
facilities and human resources such 320 PMTS students expected each
in Cairns, most notably engineering.
as the employment of students for year as well as catering for the growth
Engineering is ranked as one of the major
events. Most importantly, the new in Defence and other marine training,
skills shortages nationwide, and this
campus will address the significant following the commencement of the
shortage is greater in regional areas. To
skill gaps identified in the region, Regional Maintenance Centre for
fill this need, the importance of regional
particularly in terms of allied and Defence in 2022.
universities cannot be overstated with
mental health, engineering, and 3. To support the training and recruitment
more than 65% of employed regional
technology. The allied health courses of Cairns-based clinicians, JCU
university graduates remaining in regional
will be supported by the establishment requires an additional 80 designated
areas on completion of their studies5.
of on-campus health clinics staffed Commonwealth Supported Places
by supervised student practitioners. (CSP) recurrent for the JCU Bachelor of
NEXT STEPS The project is shovel-ready and will Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
In addressing youth unemployment and generate an estimated 330 jobs program. This will allow JCU to offer
preparing the region’s workforce for the during construction (80 direct), plus Years 1-6 of the MBBS in Cairns.
future, the following four projects have more than 300 direct jobs through
been identified as essential enablers. expanded university operations and Source:
1. CQU seeks $50 million to establish a staff and student expenditure in the
1 https://economy.id.com.au/cairns/output-by-indus-
try?StartYear=20190932
permanent, purpose-built CBD campus region. The economic impact over 10 2 https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2020/october/14/
capable of accommodating 4,000+ years will be around $549 million6.
cqunis-push-for-new-cbd-campus-picks-up-steam
3 https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_ser-
students by 2030. Due to the proposed 2. TAFE Queensland, following vices/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/306
4 Regional youth unemployment, Sep 21 (qgso.qld.gov.au)
location adjacent to the Cairns preliminary design and planning 5 ACER JTD Research briefing (2011) Higher education and
Convention Centre, the new campus work, seeks to undertake a facility
community benefits: The role of regional provision Volume
1, number 5 .
will complement existing infrastructure, extension to the GBRIMC campus, 6 Cummings, W. Economic and Socio-Economic Impact
effectively creating a knowledge with site stabilisation works including
Analysis: Proposed Development CQUniversity Campus
May 2020 p16.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
• That the Federal Government invests $50M to establish a ESTIMATED 2021 - 2022
new CBD campus for CQU. PROJECT COST
• That the Federal Government supports the expansion of
CQUniversity JCU Medical TAFE Queensland
the GBRIMC with an investment of $11.2 million, to enable CBD Campus School GBRIMC
training for the Pacific Patrol Boat training programme and Recommended
other Defence and marine requirements. Federal Investment $50M 80 additional $11.2M
CSPs
• That to support the training of a regional medical workforce,
the Federal Government allocates an additional 80
Commonwealth Supported Places recurrent, plus an
allocation of Destination Australia scholarships to JCU’s
School of Medicine and Dentistry.
07
INFRASTRUCTURE TO FORGE OUR FUTURE
CAIRNS TNQ REGIONAL PRIORITIES 2022-23
CAIRNS AIRPORT – REBUILDING AVIATION
COUNCIL: ALL TNQ STATE ELECTORATE: ALL TNQ FEDERAL ELECTORATES: KENNEDY, LEICHHARDT
BRIEFING NOTE
SUMMARY
• COVID-19 has had a
disproportionate impact on
the Far North Queensland
region with an estimated
loss of $2.2 billion of visitor
spending in 2021, impacting
more than 7,700 jobs in the
visitor economy.
• Investing in the rebuilding of
aviation will deliver a strong
ROI resulting from increased
tax revenue, while playing
a critical role supporting job
creation in the tourism and
accommodation industries. THE ISSUE connectivity be built back differently.
When international travel ceased in March
• Cairns Airport has committed Key issues for consideration during the
2020, it removed a structurally important
to upgrading the International international aviation rebuild include:
component of the $3.3B tourism industry in
Terminal to support Maintaining a stable cost base for
Far North Queensland (FNQ). International
the rebuilding of direct airline partners
visitors not only account for 7.4% of the
international aviation. This Cash constrained airlines are highly
region’s economy, but they also smooth the
follows completion of the sensitive to increased costs of doing business
annual demand cycle because they travel
Domestic Terminal upgrade in with airports in the current environment.
when domestic demand is low, which allows
2020. Mandated security upgrades will cost
operators to retain a year-round work force.
Cairns Airport $10M, significantly increasing
• Government support to The current absence of international tourists
the International Passenger Service Charge
meet the costs of Federally has operators juggling resourcing to service
and International Passenger Security Charge
Mandated security upgrades stop-start domestic demand and missing out
will avoid cost prohibitive levied to airlines, particularly as costs would
on the opportunity to serve their premium
increases to the International be shared across a reduced number of
customers.
Passenger Service Charge passengers during the aviation rebuild.
FNQ’s high value airfreight export
and International Passenger Establishing new point-to-point routes
industries are also dependent on international
Security Charge during the for the covid-cautious traveller
connectivity and currently rely heavily on the
aviation rebuild period. Route development has also been
Federal Government’s IFAM program. Whilst
impacted as passengers now prefer to avoid
• Targeted route development, this program has been a lifeline, private sector
hubs and fly point-to-point. Thankfully, Cairns
with a strong focus on Japan businesses are relying on the resumption of
has a long history of direct connectivity to
and Europe is required to international connectivity to provide freight
Japan upon which to rebuild, and modern
replace Chinese visitors capacity beyond July when the IFAM program
long-range wide-body aircraft (A350 and
who were previously the concludes.
B767) are creating opportunities for long-haul
most valuable international Cairns Airport is working to achieve a
point-to-point routes, including the possibility
customer segment for Tourism strong, fast international recovery for the
of direct flights into central-western Europe.
in the region. benefit of the region’s tourism industry and
Airlines rely on direct financial support to
exporters. This international aviation rebuild
• New aircraft technology offset the increased risk and cost associated
will be achieved from a standing start as
provides the opportunity with new routes, especially long-haul point-
the Cairns International terminal has been
for direct flights from Cairns to-point routes which are a departure from
closed to commercial traffic for two years due
to Europe, which would be the pre-covid playbook. In a cash constrained
a game changer for Cairns’ to ongoing travel restrictions. The aviation
environment, all stakeholders have weak
tourism and international rebuild will also take place in a changed
balance sheets and must work together to
trade. Cairns is the only airport and challenging operating environment
support the re-establishment of international
in Queensland that can reach where geopolitical developments, rapidly
routes.
Europe with direct flights. evolving customer needs and high degrees of
operational risk dictate that international
08
BACKGROUND and cosmetic components of the terminal
refresh, most likely with NAIF loans.
rebuild its international route network, to
bring valuable international tourists back into
Cairns Airport maintains strong
However, to maintain a stable cost base the region. Government funding to cover the
relationships with airlines based on fair
for airline partners Cairns Airport call upon security upgrade requirements will eliminate
pricing and a constructive approach to
the Federal Government to fund the the need for increases to the International
the airline-airport partnership. These
mandated security upgrades as it has Passenger Service Charge and International
relationships enable it to secure increased
done for other non-capital city airports via Passenger Security Charge, supporting the
aviation capacity, which in turn facilitates
the Regional Airport Security Screening recovery of the region’s tourism industry.
regional growth. Cairns Airport has a
Fund. Cairns Airport understands that it Cairns Airport investment: Cairns
successful track record of investment in
sits outside the eligibility parameters for Airport is supporting the regional economic
international route development and a
this program but is concerned that a new recovery by investing in initiatives that
history of successful collaboration with
commercial disincentive to fly into Cairns increase the appeal of direct flights to
government to deliver positive regional and
during the rebuild period would negatively international airlines.
industry outcomes.
impact the recovery of the international Aviation attraction funding: To rebuild
In FY19 Cairns International Airport
tourism industry at a time when the region traditional direct routes and to provide direct
facilitated 4,400 direct international
needs all the support it can get. connectivity to new destinations without
flights and 660,000 direct international
Cairns Airport has had to reevaluate exposing passengers to hub airports. Cairns
passenger movements. During that
its approach to international route Airport seeks to work with State and Federal
period, international visitors accounted for
development for the COVID-normal Governments in attracting a full-service carrier
6.9M room nights and $1.1B in regional
operating environment. into Japan and establishing a direct service
expenditure in Far North Queensland, while
The rebuilding of key tourism markets into Europe. To achieve this, government will
airfreight exports ex Cairns Airport totalled
such as Japan back to its peak in the late be called upon to help de-risk these service
3,075 tonnes with a total value of $146M.
2000s would largely offset the recent loss of through the direct provision of aviation
Now that vaccination thresholds have
direct Chinese arrivals from Hong Kong and attraction funding to Cairns Airport.
been achieved, Cairns Airport is once again
mainland China, and modern, fuel-efficient
seeking to support the re-establishment
aircraft now make it possible to establish
of critical international links to enable
direct connections from Cairns to Europe. A
industries to continue operation.
Cairns-Frankfurt service would make Cairns
Cairns Airport is engaging with NAIF
(and Queensland) a single-hop destination
to revitalise the International Terminal on
for covid-cautious European travellers.
the basis that that a modern and efficient
There is no precedent for such direct
international terminal will be a more
connectivity from Cairns, so interested
attractive destination for international
airlines would seek to minimise commercial
airlines and will provide an improved
risk through government support.
passenger experience for the FNQ tourism
Cairns Airport has a solid track record
industry.
of delivering a strong ROI on government
Government mandated security
aviation investment and this would
upgrades would be completed as part of
be opportunity for another successful
the terminal refresh project however the
partnership.
incremental cost of security upgrades, if
funded by Cairns Airport, would be passed
through to airlines via increases in the NEXT STEPS
International Passenger Service Charge and Mandated security upgrade:
International Passenger Security Charge. Maintaining stable costs for airlines is a
Cairns Airport will fund the functional high priority for Cairns Airport as it works to
OUR RECOMMENDATION
• To maximise success, Cairns Airport calls on the Federal
government to make the following commitments:
ESTIMATED 2022 - 2023 - 2024 - 2025 -
º $10 million towards Security Infrastructure upgrades, PROJECT COST
to support the recovery of the region’s international
2023 2024 2025 2026
$30M
tourism industry, by allowing Cairns Airport to Recommended Federal Investment
maintain a stable cost base for airlines during the
international aviation rebuild period. Infrastructure
$10 million $10m
º $20 million ($5M per year for four years from State Recommended State and Federal Investment
and Federal Governments) in aviation attraction
funding directly to Cairns Airport, to support Aviation attraction
attraction of an historic direct central-western support $5m $5m $5m $5m
European international connection and to rebuild $20 million
Japan back to peak visitor numbers.
09
INFRASTRUCTURE TO FORGE OUR FUTURE
CAIRNS TNQ REGIONAL PRIORITIES 2022-23
FOOD AND WATER SECURITY
COUNCILS: CAIRNS, MAREEBA, ETHERIDGE, COOK, TABLELANDS STATE ELECTORATES: BARRON RIVER, CAIRNS, HILL, TRAEGER
FEDERAL ELECTORATES: KENNEDY, LEICHHARDT
THE ISSUE
BRIEFING NOTE Tropical North Queensland (TNQ) has seen
SUMMARY sustained population growth during the past 30
• The ability to meet increased years underpinned by the expansion of industries
demand for fresh Australian
including agriculture, tourism, fisheries,
food from North Queensland is
at risk due to the lack of a long- education, health, and retail. Throughout 2020,
term water implementation agriculture has been a continuing success story
strategy. for the region and vitally important in driving
• To cater for growing demand post-COVID-19 economic recovery. At the
for water, four significant water forefront of agricultural growth has been the
supply and infrastructure
projects are considered Atherton Tablelands, driven by the Mareeba
essential enablers for the Dimbulah Water Supply Scheme (MDWSS)
region: Lakeland Area with rapid expansion in high-value crops such
Irrigation Scheme, Cairns
Water Security – Stage 1 as avocados, bananas, berries, and sugarcane.
project, Etheridge Shire Water is now 100% allocated1 and 80% used,
Agricultural and Irrigation with purchase prices rising more than three-fold
Precinct Project, and North
Johnstone River Diversion since 2011, peaking at $4000ML.
Scheme. To address high prices and supply issues on
• All four projects require the Tablelands, short- and long-term action is
through Cairns Airport within a decade.
bilateral commitment and urgently needed. The Queensland Government,
shared investment to facilitate Urban demand also continues to increase
via the Regional Water Assessment Program, is
environmental approvals and with Cairns’ population growth averaging 1.1%
currently undertaking a $3M investigation into
to progress to construction per annum. This, combined with a long-running
stage. possible additional water supply and long-term
history of attracting an estimated three million
water security across the broader Tablelands
• A $7M investment is required tourists visiting TNQ annually pre-COVID, means
to progress a North Johnstone region. Sunwater is undertaking much-needed
River Diversion Scheme an effective and multi-faceted water supply
improvements in the MDWSS to provide
business case with completion strategy is required to ensure the growing
efficiencies in the short term, but the scheme
of the business case by June needs of the region can be met. Addressing
2022, to enable and inform a will also need supplementing with extra supply
this urban need will also reduce the impact
rewrite of the water resource through the proposed North Johnstone River
plans for both the Barron and on agricultural water supply. In Cairns itself,
Diversion Scheme.
Wet Tropics catchments. modelling by the Cairns Regional Council shows
In addition, agriculture in areas such as
• A $2M investment is needed that demand for water will outstrip supply within
the Lakeland district near Cooktown and
to progress the Etheridge the next five years. As a result, the Cairns Water
Agricultural and Irrigation surrounding the Gilbert River in Etheridge Shire
Security – Stage 1 project is an essential piece of
Precinct implementation has the potential to expand rapidly through value
strategy which includes an infrastructure to secure urban water supply for
crops such as bananas, grains, cotton, legumes,
Economic, Environmental, and Cairns well into the future.
Social Impact Assessment; and watermelons. Water security has been a
In summary, four significant water supply and
farming land analysis; and concern for a number of years and is now limiting
synthesis of existing work on infrastructure projects are considered essential
supply in both regions.
the Gilbert River to identify enablers for water security and growth in the
Agricultural exports are vital to TNQ with the
available and potential water region:
supply with a view to obtaining industry sector output currently valued at $1.6B2,
• Lakeland Irrigation Area Project
pre-approval for the key constrained mainly by factors such as irrigation
components of the precinct. • Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project
and access to market. A landmark supply chain
• Etheridge Shire Agricultural and Irrigation
study titled Export 2030 – Fresh Food Fast3 was
Precinct Project
released in June 2020, which highlighted the
• North Johnstone River Diversion Scheme.
potential to double high-value food exports
10BACKGROUND for the project.
Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 project:
up to 50,000ML. A $7M investment is sought
for a full business case to enable and inform
Water and food security have become
With forecasts indicating that supply to the the rewrite of the Water Resource Plans for
priority national policy issues on the back
Cairns urban region is due to be at capacity both the Barron River and Wet Tropics in
of record drought periods in Australia, as
by 2026, the Cairns Water Security – Stage 1 subsequent years.
well as disruption to supply chains through
project is a critical piece of infrastructure for
COVID-19. In 2020, the Federal Government
committed a further $2B to the National
the city. The project has been identified by NEXT STEPS
the Cairns Regional Council’s Water Security Development of the four proposed water
Water Infrastructure Fund to build resilience
Advisory Group (WSAG) as a key priority infrastructure projects would meet a range of
in regions and to help grow the agricultural
to meet the short- to medium-term water state and national policy objectives, including:
sector. A National Water Grid Authority has
security needs of the Cairns community. The
also been established to develop investment • Expanding northern Australia’s agricultural
project is estimated to cost about $215M
frameworks. In strengthening the role of productive capacity – this is nationally
and will provide an estimated 630 FTE jobs
northern Australia as a food bowl, substantial significant given the impact of drought on
and contribute an estimated $159M in Gross
feasibility work has progressed in the past food and water security in southern Australia.
Regional Product (GRP) during the project’s
three years to explore new agricultural • Increasing northern Australia’s contribution
construction phase4.
development opportunities. With many
Etheridge Shire Agricultural and to GDP through an increase in agricultural
of these studies now coming to a close,
Irrigation Precinct Project: Etheridge production.
there are clear priorities for progressing
Shire Council, in conjunction with Regional • Diversifying northern Australia’s economic
environmental impact and construction
Development Australia Tropical North, capabilities to facilitate investment and reduce
activities, and a coordinated approach to
proposes to develop an agricultural and reliance on tourism.
development is required.
irrigation precinct in the Shire. The project • Strengthening Australia’s international
Lakeland Area Irrigation Scheme
aims to establish protocols that facilitate competitiveness through proximity to Asia.
Project: Regional Development Australia
the approval and expansion of agriculture
Tropical North, through the National Water
and horticulture across the precinct on a
Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF),
regional basis. As much as 530,000ha of
funded a preliminary business case that
Class A and B soil is potentially available in the
investigated new water storage options
Shire, but there are barriers to water access
to expand the Lakeland irrigation area.
and security. Around 495,000ML of water
Once constructed, the proposed dam will
is available in the Gilbert River catchment
store 200,000ML with a secure output
area. A $2m investment is proposed for an
of 80,000ML per annum, irrigating up to
implementation strategy to analyse the best
10,000ha of highly irrigable land. Federal
means of accessing water and irrigating up to
Government funding of $10M to further
50,000ha of land to diversify crop types and
develop the business case has seen work
drive economic growth in the area.
advance materially with aerial mapping,
North Johnstone River Diversion
geological drilling and sampling, and dry
Scheme: Sunwater completed a preliminary
season ecology fieldwork all completed.
feasibility study in early 2020 with favourable
The draft Reference Design was completed 1 https://www.sunwater.com.au/schemes/
findings, and the Queensland Department MareebaDimbulah/
in December 2021. Further work on the 2 https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/
of Resources has since been undertaking Lookup/by%20Subject/1001.0~2016-17~Main%20
business case is continuing, with completion Features~2015-16%20Agricultural%20Census~10002
detailed hydrological modelling. The 3 https://www.advancecairns.com/project/
scheduled for September 2022. Bilateral export2030-delivering-fresh-food-fast/
diversion scheme is considered a viable
government support will be required to 4 https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/
option to stimulate the economy, delivering water/security
further the development approval processes
OUR RECOMMENDATION
• That the Federal and Queensland Governments work
together to facilitate and coordinate the development
approval processes for the Lakeland Irrigation Area Project.
ESTIMATED 2021 - 2021 - 2024 - 2025 -
• That in 2022-2023 the Federal Government commits funding PROJECT COST 2022 2022 2025 2026
North Etheridge Cairns Water Cairns Water
towards the Cairns Water Security - Stage 1 project as per $230M Johnstone Shire scoping Security - Security -
the Town and City Water Security High Priority Infrastructure business case study Stage 1 project Stage 1 project
Initiative identified by Infrastructure Australia. Recommended
$7M $2M $55M $52.5M
• That the Federal Government provides $2M over two years Federal Investment
for the implementation strategy for the Etheridge Shire Recommended
$55M $52.5M
Agricultural and Irrigation Precinct Project. State Investment
• That the Queensland Government applies to the National
Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF) in 2021-
2022 for $7m to progress a full business case for the North
Johnstone River diversion scheme.
11INFRASTRUCTURE TO FORGE OUR FUTURE
CAIRNS TNQ REGIONAL PRIORITIES 2022-23
COASTAL ROADS
COUNCILS: CAIRNS , CASSOWARY COAST, HINCHINBROOK, TOWNSVILLE STATE ELECTORATES: CAIRNS, HINCHINBROOK
FEDERAL ELECTORATES: HERBERT, KENNEDY, LEICHHARDT
THE ISSUE
BRIEFING NOTE An integrated and efficient road transport
SUMMARY network is critical for economic stability
and growth in Tropical North Queensland
• TNQ’s road transport
(TNQ) and the coastal road network plays an
system is under pressure
important part. The main coastal roads for TNQ
due to population growth,
particularly on the coastal that require significant upgrading are:
road network around 1. The Bruce Highway A1 (Cairns to
Cairns, which is the main Townsville)
distribution hub for the 2. The Cairns Ring Road (comprising the
region. Captain Cook Highway and the Cairns
Western Arterial Road)
• The Bruce Highway is one
In TNQ, the road network underpins the
of Australia’s highest risk
economy. The road network is vital to the
roads, and in the 5 years
resident population of 256 0391 (with up to
to 2020 there were 604
casualty crashes and 33 50,000 tourists during peak holiday season)
fatalities on the stretch ensuring accessibility to health, education,
between Cairns and community services, and trade. Due to
Townsville. sustained population growth, TNQ’s road
transport system faces increasing pressure.
• When the Captain Cook
Meeting the growing demand for freight has
Highway is flooded, the
strained existing infrastructure, impacting on
Cairns Western Arterial
transport costs and service levels across the
Road is the only flood-free
supply chain. The strain has been exacerbated
access route between
Cairns, the Northern by uneven population dispersion, competing
Beaches, and the Kennedy road users, and resilience gaps in the road
Highway. network which is frequently impacted by
weather events. Traffic congestion, safety issues,
•In the 2021-22 budget,
and a loss of liveability and connectivity are the
the Federal Government the key port locations difficult. While there is
key issues for these roads.
allocated $240 million to significant potential to expand export activities
The Bruce Highway is part of the National
duplicate the entire length for the TNQ region, particularly to Asian
Highway A1, providing the vital link between
of the Cairns Western markets, connectivity between ports is a critical
Arterial Road. Additionally, Cairns and Townsville, other Queensland
enabling factor in the future development of
the Queensland coastal cities, and Brisbane. The highway also
Cairns as an export and service hub.
Government promised supports the transport of freight into and out of
Cairns’ population is forecast to grow by
$60 million for the road the region. Cairns and Townsville are northern
42%2 by 2046, and with its geography highly
in the lead-up to the last Australia’s largest cities, yet the mostly single
constrained by World Heritage-listed mountains
election. carriageway highway is inadequate for the
and rainforest to the west and the Great Barrier
population base and is frequently closed due to
Reef Marine Park to the east, the ability to
flooding.
build new roads is severely limited. Therefore,
There is significant traffic congestion on the
it is imperative for the future prosperity and
Captain Cook Highway and along the Cairns
liveability of Cairns that both the Bruce Highway
Western Arterial Road, both of which lead from
and the Cairns Ring Road be upgraded.
the Northern Beaches into the city. This makes
the transport of freight to, from, and between
12BACKGROUND The Cairns Arterial Road network has
NEXT STEPS
The Bruce Highway: Over the A number of significant investments
been underfunded for many years in terms
past decade, the Bruce Highway has announced to address safety and efficiency
of capacity upgrades, with residential and
consistently been rated one of Australia’s challenges on the TNQ road network must
industrial land development outpacing
highest risk roads. In 2016 the highway be commenced as soon as possible.
road project investments.
accounted for 17% of national casualty • Bruce Highway, Cairns to Townsville:
The Cairns Western Arterial Road is
crashes on only 7.5% of the entire national Develop a strategic transport plan
considered a priority infrastructure project
network. On the 299km section between for the Bruce Highway, which links
as the road is heavily congested on a daily
Cairns and Townsville, which carries an northern Australia’s two largest centres,
basis. Furthermore, when the Captain
estimated 17,250 vehicles per day, in the Cairns and Townsville.
Cook Highway is flooded during wet
five years to 2020 there were 604 casualty • Bruce Highway, Innisfail Bypass:
season or natural disaster, it is the only
crashes and 33 fatalities3. The mostly single Continue to preserve the existing
flood-free access route between Cairns,
carriageway is slow, dangerous, and often bypass corridor and continue transport
the Northern Beaches, and the Kennedy
closed during flooding. project planning ($9 million) with a view
Highway.
Cairns Ring Road (Captain Cook to completion by 2024-25.
Upgrading the state-owned Western
Highway section): The National • Bruce Highway, Ingham to Cardwell
Arterial section of the Cairns Ring
Highway A1 was extended by the Federal Range Deviation: Continue to preserve
Road, which carries approximately
Government in 2020 to the intersection the existing transport corridor and
42,000 vehicles per day2, is essential to
of Captain Cook and Kennedy Highways commence transport project planning
connecting Cairns’ freight routes with the
and Mount Milman Drive, Smithfield, north ($48 million) with a view to completion
region’s premier agriculture producing
of Cairns. In 2019, just before this road by 2024-25.
areas (Atherton Tablelands, Cape York
re-classification, the Federal Government • Captain Cook Highway: Complete
Peninsula, and Mossman), while also
announced it would undertake the majority planning for upgrade between Cairns
meeting demand for daily commuter
of funding ($287 million of $359 million) and Smithfield and include $359
traffic. At the 2020 State Election, the
for road upgrades to Smithfield. The need million (State and Federal) allocated
State Government pledged $60 million
to upgrade Captain Cook Highway to for construction in budget forward
to the Western Arterial Road. In the May
enhance connectivity was recognised estimates for 2022-2025.
2021-22 budget, the Federal Government
by the Federal Government in its July • Cairns Western Arterial Road: Now that
committed $240 million for the duplication
2020 release of the 2019 National Land the Federal Government has committed
of the remaining single carriageway
Transport Network (NLTN) Determination to $240 million in the 2021-22 budget,
section of the road. It is now imperative
Review, and works on the first phase it is imperative that planning for the
that the State Government commits to the
between James Street and Airport Avenue duplication of the road between
balance of funding and that planning gets
are to begin in late 2021. Smithfield and Redlynch be completed
underway to ensure the duplication work is
Cairns Ring Road (Cairns Western to enable works to commence as soon
undertaken as soon as possible.
Arterial Road section): The effectiveness as possible.
Infrastructure Australia has listed
and safety of the road transport network
both the Bruce Highway and the Cairns
in and around Cairns will continue to
Western Arterial Road on its 2021 list of Source:
be adversely impacted until the Cairns 1 https://profile.id.com.au/cairns/population-estimate
infrastructure priorities4. 2 https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/cairns-west-
Western Arterial Road is fully duplicated ern-arterial-road-capacity
from Redlynch to Smithfield as well as 3 https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/crash-data-from-
queensland-roads
major intersections being upgraded. 4 https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/publications/Infra-
structure_Priority_List_2021
ESTIMATED 2021 - 2022 - 2023 -
OUR RECOMMENDATION PROJECT COST 2022 2023 2024
• That through the Bruce Highway program, the State and Federal BRUCE HIGHWAY - funding required $57m
Governments honour their promise to upgrade North Queensland
sections of the National Highway A1 ($57M) and commit to Recommended
Federal Investment $7.2m $16m $22.4m
developing a strategic transport plan linking Cairns and Townsville.
• That the Federal Government commitment of $287.2 million for Recommended
Captain Cook Highway upgrade and $240 million for the CWAR State Investment $1.8m $4m $5.6m
duplication be allocated in forward estimates.
ESTIMATED
PROJECT COST
CAIRNS RING ROAD - funded, delivery by 2025 $659m
Captain Cook Western Cairns Ring
Highway Arterial Road Road
Recommended
Federal Investment $287m $240m $527m
Recommended $72m $60m $132m
State Investment (Pledged)
13INFRASTRUCTURE TO FORGE OUR FUTURE
CAIRNS TNQ REGIONAL PRIORITIES 2022-23
TABLELANDS ACCESS
COUNCILS: CAIRNS, MAREEBA, TABLELANDS STATE ELECTORATES: BARRON RIVER, CAIRNS, COOK, MULGRAVE, HILL, TRAEGER
FEDERAL ELECTORATES: KENNEDY, LEICHHARDT
BRIEFING NOTE THE ISSUE Tropical Coast, and Cape York to the Cairns
Airport and seaports. The Kuranda Range Road
The road networks linking Cairns with the vital
SUMMARY agricultural, mining, and tourism regions of the
underpins the commercial viability of primary
industries, producers, and exporters in the
• There are four main roads Atherton Tablelands and beyond are critical
region in providing access to markets through
linking Cairns with the enablers of the regional economy. With sizeable
Atherton Tablelands: the Cairns air and seaports, and road links to
growth in both agriculture and mining in the
Palmerston Highway, southern markets2. In recent years, there has
region predicted in the next decade, a safe and
Gillies Range Road, been rapid growth in traffic demand due to
reliable road network that enables increased
Kuranda Range Road, and growth in tourism, freight movement, and
heavy vehicle traffic is vital for economic growth
Mossman Mt Molloy Road. residential development on the Tablelands. The
and prosperity in the region. The road network
road is now operating beyond capacity with
• The Kuranda Range Road in and out of Cairns acts as the main distribution
safety and traffic efficiency now at critical levels
has already exceeded its hub for the region and is essential to further
for action.
capacity of 9,500 vehicle developing the agricultural and mining exports
There are other impediments to a safe and
movements per day, of the region. However, meeting the growing
catering for up to 10,000 efficient transport corridor from Cairns to the
demands for freight has strained existing
daily traffic movements. Tablelands. The Barron River Bridge on the
infrastructure, impacting transport costs and
In 2018-2019, the road Kennedy Highway at Kuranda was reduced to
service levels across the supply chain.
was closed more than 130 one lane and load limited to 50.5 tonnes for a
There are four main roads linking Cairns with
times due to crashes and year due to concerns over the safety and stability
the Atherton Tablelands: Palmerston Highway
debris. of the bridge. The State Government in March
and Gillies Range Road servicing the Southern
2021 announced a $2.1 million investigation
• The Palmerston Highway Tablelands, and the Kuranda Range Road and
into long-term solutions for either replacing or
connects Innisfail to Millaa Mossman Mount Molloy Road for the Northern
Millaa on the Southern rehabilitating the bridge3.
Tablelands. Two of these roads, the Palmerston
Tablelands. It is a critical The Federal Government, in its July 2020
Highway and Kuranda Range Road, are
road to connect the release of the 2019 National Land Transport
considered priority transport routes for goods
agriculture and mining Network (NLTN) Determination Review,
to and from the region1. All roads pass through
sectors of Tropical North confirmed the National Highway A1 would
World Heritage-listed areas, increasing the
Queensland with the port be extended from Cairns to Smithfield. The
complexity of any potential transport solution.
of Mourilyan. objectives of an integrated land transport
The Palmerston Highway connects Innisfail
network include improving national and regional
• Extending the NLTN from to Millaa Millaa on the Southern Tablelands. It
connectivity for communities and industry;
Smithfield to Mareeba is a critical road to connect the agriculture and
will ensure continued improving national, regional, and international
mining sectors of Tropical North Queensland
economic and social logistics; and trade and consistency with viable,
with the port of Mourilyan. However, it requires
development of the region long-term economic and social outcomes4.
significant upgrades to allow heavy vehicles to
and will improve national Continuing the NLTN from Smithfield to Mareeba
use the route on a regular basis.
and regional connectivity. would meet these objectives as well as ensuring
The Kuranda Range Road (Kennedy Highway,
It will also ensure there the continued economic and social development
Cairns/Mareeba section) links Smithfield with
is a clear partnership of the Atherton Tablelands region and beyond.
Kuranda and is the main coastal gateway to
between State and Federal It would be the next logical step in the network,
the Atherton Tablelands, Cape York Peninsula,
Governments for future with Mareeba being the gateway to the region’s
and the Gulf Savannah. It is a critical link for
investment in the lead-up agriculture production areas of Atherton
commuter, commercial, and visitor traffic in
to the last election. Tablelands, Cape York Peninsula, and the Gulf of
Tropical North Queensland and a vital strategic
Carpentaria.
corridor linking the Atherton Tablelands, North
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