From the CEO
With our eyes firmly fixed on the 2024-25 State Budget submission deadline, much of our focus was on communicating and harnessing support for our General Aviation priority, calling for a total $63 million investment to unlock potential in the sector. This included our member aviation lunch event featuring Cairns Airport and Skytek, and culminated in the media launch at the Skytek hangar and our visit to Parliament House in Brisbane. You can read more on our extensive engagement with key stakeholders to promote the priority below.
It is a privilege to represent the Far North in the Brisbane 2032 Industry Advisory Group and I’ll be working hard to ensure the benefits from the Olympic Games – particularly those that create a long-lasting legacy well beyond the event themselves – are explored. Positioning Cairns as the northern gateway to the Games is just the beginning and I am pleased we are at the table.
It was a pleasure to host the Chair of Trade Investment Queensland Daniel Gschwind and CEO Justin McGowan at a roundtable to share the organisation’s strategy and laser-like focus on driving economic growth through trade and investment. You’ll hear more about our work on attracting investment to the region over coming months.
We joined our three shipyards at the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Expo in Sydney which offered an insight into the extraordinary technological advances and investments in the defence industry. We also heard more about the increasingly important role Cairns plays in naval sustainment and maintenance.
Great to have the opportunity to walk the first section of what will be Queensland’s first purpose built multi-use walking and mountain biking track in a national park. Good to see The Wangetti Trail taking shape; a far more complex engineering project than I had expected.
Looking forward to welcoming flights from Shanghai to Cairns for the 2024 Chinese New Year holiday. A great way to kick off the Year of the Dragon,
Importantly, I want to pay tribute to former Mayor Bob Manning who resigned leaving an incredible legacy. The benefits of his selfless commitment to Cairns live on through major achievements including the redevelopment of the Tobruk Memorial Pool, the Esplanade dining Precinct, the Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Munro Martin Parklands, and much more. We owe Bob a debt of gratitude and wish him well. Congratulations to Cr Terry James on his election as Mayor. We look forward to continuing to carry on that spirit of collaboration.
Finally, as we share this news with you this morning hot on the heels of the announcement that Cairns-based NORSTA has won the contract for the Regional Maintenance Provider (RMP) for the North based in Darwin. A major achievement on the back of establishing Australia’s first defence RMP here in Cairns.
Read more about these updates and other engagements below. And as we head into the Christmas season, may all of us at Advance Cairns wish you, your staff and your families the very best for a restful and peaceful festive season. May you travel safely over the holiday period and look forward to a prosperous new year.
Best Regards,
Jacinta Reddan
Chief Executive Officer
Advance Cairns
Month in review
2024-25 Queensland Budget sumission
Our first phase advocacy for the 2024-25 Queensland Budget outlines key priorities for FNQ’s economic diversification, calling for investment in the general aviation sector, as well as pushing for accelerated funding for marine, health and roads. These measures aim to foster economic growth, generate employment, and establish clear career pathways in the region.
Energy transition series: Wooroora Station Wind Farm roundtable
Members had the opportunity to learn more about a proposal to develop a windfarm on the Tablelands with Matthew Stuchbery of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Anthony Russo of Ark Energy. This marked the third instalment in a series of conversations concerning the energy transition and opportunities for the region.
Discussion centred around details of the proposed project and CIP’s aspirations to achieve nature-positive outcomes. The group received updates on alterations to the project proposal, such as reducing the turbine count from 200 to 42, and introducing measures for fire risk clearance and feral pest control. CIP emphasised a local-first approach in their strategy, intending to source components and services locally where possible with more details to follow.
The project is currently awaiting approval from the Federal Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water.
Federal Infrastructure review
The Australian Government has finally disclosed the outcomes of the Infrastructure Investment Program (IIP), confirming the Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield upgrade (C2S) will proceed as planned. However, despite being fully funded, the Cairns Western Arterial Road, Redlynch Connector to Captain Cook Highway duplication (CWAR) faces potential delays due to ongoing review and planning processes.
2023 AGM & cocktail function
The AGM saw the confirmation of two directors to the board and of four members to the Advisory Council.
Thank you to all who participated and nominated during this year’s AGM.
Directors reappointed to the Board
Jodie Duignan-George, CQUniversity
Nick Trompf, Tallangalook and Santa Gertrudis
Appointed to the Advisory Council
Andrew Wagner, Tropical Reef Shipyards
Eva Grabner, Elite Executive Services
Melanie Clarke, TAFE Queensland
James Mort, MiHaven
Indo Pacific International Maritime Expo
The Cairns contingent was among the strong Queensland presence at the bi-annual Expo with Tropical Reef Shipyard, Austal, and NORSTA joining national and international maritime and naval industry leaders and businesses.
Q2032 Industry Advisory Group
CEO Jacinta Reddan provides a voice for the Far North in joining the State Government-convened Q2032 Industry Advisory Group (IAG) which will seek to maximise business benefits from the Olympic Games.
With 18 founding industry members, including Advance Cairns, this group will help set targets, generate ideas and encourage private sector investment.
The IAG set to maximise the opportunities for business across Queensland in the lead up to and well beyond the 2032 Olympics.
Trade and Investment Queensland roundtable
An informative session led by Justin McGowan, CEO of Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), during a high-level roundtable discussion featuring members and industry leaders. Justin presented TIQ’s Investment and Trading Strategy, outlining priorities aimed at bolstering Queensland’s profile. These priorities encompass promoting Queensland, fostering investment and job growth, enhancing exports, and establishing trusted partnerships. He emphasised the collaboration among tourism, education, and trade sectors.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) National Agriculture Day
An eye-opening look at the latest in innovation in the agriculture sector during the QFF AgTech breakfast in Brisbane. We heard extraordinary examples of how technology is revolutionising agriculture at a time when global food security is paramount.
Member spotlight
2023 Award Celebrations
Congratulations to members whose outstanding industry-beating achievements have been acknowledged at various events held nationwide.
2023 Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Queensland Tourism Awards
Tropical North Queensland operators took home 14 wins across 10 categories at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s Queensland Tourism Awards ceremony at the Cairns Convention Centre on Friday 27 November.
2023 Australian Airports Association (AAA) National Airport Industry Awards
Cairns Airport has received the prestigious Airport of the Year title for the second time in 2023, this time from the Australia Airports Association. This follows the airport’s national gong from Australian Aviation Awards back in September as the airport under Richard Barker’s leadership continues its outsized performance.
2023 TNQ Tourism Industry Excellence Awards
Pip Woodward, Company Director at The CaPTA Group – TTNQ’s Life Member
Ken Chapman, Chairman of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway – TTNQ’s Life Member
Cairns Airport Ambassadors – Outstanding Commitment to the Industry
Jamie Binder, Marketing and Social Media Executive at Crystalbrook Collection – Young Achiever Excellence
ATEC Excellence Awards 2023
Tourism Tropical North Queensland – Partner of the Year
North Queensland – Region of the Year
Free TAFE saving future nurses up to $24,000
The Palaszczuk Government is expanding Fee Free TAFE initiatives for nursing students, offering an additional 3,500 Diploma of Nursing placements in 2024. This fee-free diploma, provided by TAFE Queensland, CQUniversity, and Mater Education, supplements the existing Fee Free TAFE program covering key skill areas such as early childhood education. The government’s investment of $87.5 million in the Diploma of Nursing Fee Free TAFE initiative will save students up to $24,000.
New Member: Cook Shire Council
Welcome, Cook Shire Council, the largest land area shire in Queensland, covering over 100,000km2 and encompassing 80% of Cape York Peninsula from the Bloomfield River to just north of the Jardine River. Cook Shire celebrates its diverse smaller communities; Lakeland excels in agriculture while Laura boasts world-renowned rock art. Excited for future collaborations. Special welcome to Mayor Peter Cook and the team under the leadership of Brian Joiner.
New Member: Skytrans
We welcome Skytrans, regional aviation operator in Queensland, renowned for their extensive history and service connecting Cairns to Torres Strait. Their expertise in passenger and freight transportation will be invaluable for future discussions around the general aviation sector. Skytrans’ membership coincides with our push for a multi-million investment in the Cairns’ aviation sector to unlock business.
Opportunities
Have your say | 2015 Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia
The Office of Northern Australia is engaging with stakeholders to inform a refresh of the 2015 Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia. The outcome of this work will be to develop a new action plan for northern Australia. Survey takes 12-15 mins.
Complete survey >>
Made in Queensland Round 6 | Matched funding grants of $50,000 to $2.5 | Close 11 December 2023 million
Round 1 of the Growing Future Tourism program will provide financial support to deliver new and enhanced tourism infrastructure or experiences in the priority areas of coastal and marine tourism; heritage and cultural tourism; ecotourism and sustainability.
Find out more >>
Go-Green Co-Innovation Program | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | $9,625,000 | Closes 4 December
Go-Green Co-Innovation Program seeks to facilitate collaboration between Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and Singaporean businesses in jointly undertaking projects that drive the decarbonisation of economic activities, or help Australia or Singapore to transition to net zero emissions. By incentivising Australian SME to establish or expand business and commercial activities with Singaporean businesses, GGCIP seeks to boost trade and commerce between Australia and Singapore in environmental goods and services across green sectors.
Find out more >>
Backing Business in the Bush Fund | Queensland Treasury | $50M | Closes 14 January 2024
Applications are now open for the $50M Backing Business in the Bush Fund, an investment program supporting Queensland SMEs with regional Queensland projects.
The fund aims to:
• increase productivity, long-term commercial sustainability, and competitiveness of Queensland businesses to capitalise on domestic and export growth opportunities
• support businesses and industries to further adapt to economic change with sustained or increased employment and/or upskilling opportunities
• increase private sector investment in regional Queensland to assist projects to be built
• assist businesses to adopt technology and/or practices to improve environmental sustainability.
Find out more >>
Request for Tender – Medium Works Contract (MW-2 2021) – Project No: AZ6513 | Closes 7 December
The Cadet Bridging Solution is being commissioned to meet the accommodation, parading, administration,
dining, teaching, and boat and equipment storage requirements for 80 Cadets and eight (8)
instructors. The Contractor will be required to design and construct the Cadet Bridging Solution.
Estimated Value: From $8,000,000 to $13,500,000
Closing Date: 12:00 PM Thursday 7 December 2023
Enquiries: RPS AAP Consulting Pty Ltd – Attn: Justin Phillips,
Email: NCIS8A.CBS@rpsgroup.com.au
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