The TNQ Skills Master Class Invitation

You are invited to tap into the region’s long history of innovation and ability to look to itself for solutions.   Welcome to the TNQ Skills Master Class, a free event showcasing local solutions to the national skills and labour shortage.  Hear from great local professionals followed by networking at the premier location.

The fast-tracking of the Cairns Base Hospital upgrade is welcome news for the region, provided the Cairns Airport privatisation is managed with diligence and caution.

Advance Cairns Chairman Russell Beer, commented “both developments were critical to the region, but should not necessarily be linked. The eventual development plan for both the airport and the hospital must be based on an assessment of what is right to ensure the region’s future economic and community health needs”

Private ownership of the airport brings with it responsibilities to the region and its population, and we would expect that future potential owners give a commitment to ongoing support for the tourism and regional economic development sectors which have benefitted from the cooperative partnership with CPA.
 
Advance Cairns will work with its constituent bodies the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, TTNQ, and the Cairns Regional Council to monitor developments and ensure the interests of the region will be best served after privatisation.

As a prime regional city it is essential Cairns possess high quality infrastructure and services to meet growing population needs and ensure that we retain strong tourism flows.

It is critical therefore that the upgrade of the hospital is not at the cost of the airports expansion of services and capacity.

It is essential that we retain a viable domestic and international airport, and we would hope that the potential for greater investment in the airport and associated facilities is realised, and attracts additional airline capacity and support services to the region.

Advance Cairns has recognised five vital issues impacting the region’s future in its submission to the FNQ 2020 Summit.

Advance Cairns has joined with other key regional organisations in contributing to the summit, seizing the opportunity to impress on government policy makers the region’s exceptional circumstances.

“TNQ needs a unique set of solutions”, Advance Cairn’s  Interim CEO Mr Bill Calderwood said.  “A one-size-fits-all approach to infrastructure and planning will constrain the region’s growth and development in the future. The region’s unique issues, style and needs have to be recognised”.

In a region known for its natural resources, Advance Cairns has identified a shortage of human resource as an area of concern for TNQ, across many sectors, but particularly in health services.

Water, highways and health infrastructure, were also a focus of the submission, as was the emerging Tropical Expertise sector.

The regional summits will feed into the 2020 Summit to be held in Canberra on April 19 and 20, with the purpose of shaping long term strategies for the nation’s future.

Mr Jim Turnour, Member for Leichardt said “I welcome the debate which the 2020 Summit process has created, and look forward to ensuring that our regions unique challenges are recognised at the Federal level”