High Performance Centre

The Leading Destination for Women’s Sport in Australia

Cairns is ambitiously positioning itself as a vibrant hub for women’s sports in its quest to become the leading destination for women’s sports in Australia. This vision is part of an innovative strategy to enhance the region’s profile and drive economic development through sports tourism and community engagement.
The relocation of the North Queensland Cowboys NRLW Program, along with the construction of the Cairns Community, Development & High Performance Centre (CDHPC), will help realise this vision by securing the first national women’s sporting team for the Far North. This initiative will bring significant economic benefits, create jobs, and enhance community wellbeing.

Cairns Regional Council has unveiled a bold vision to position the Cairns Region as the leading destination for women’s sport in Australia. The CDHPC will address the current lack of High Performance training facilities in the Far North region along with supporting the promotion and attraction of professional women’s sporting teams.

Overview

The Cairns Community, Development and High Performance Centre (CDHPC) is an important development for the Cairns Major Events Precinct. The Cairns Major Events Precinct is a strategic parcel of land covering an area of approximately 26 hectares located less than one kilometre from the Cairns CBD, adjacent to Barlow Park Stadium and across the road from the Cairns Showgrounds. The precinct is comprised of a number of component parts which together, provide a strong foundation to further develop the site as a major events precinct of national significance in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The CDHPC at West Barlow Park will complement the ongoing upgrades at Barlow Park and elevate Cairns’ position as a hub for athletes, teams, and events.

Cairns is perfectly positioned to harness this vision which also benefits our neighbours in the Pacific. By leveraging significant sporting infrastructure, the international airport, ample accommodation options, attractive climate and geographic location, we can cement the city’s position as the preeminent destination for women’s sport in Australia and expand the ability to host major sporting events in Cairns in the near future.

The CDHPC will house both the Cowboys NRLW and Northern Pride squads.

The 4,000m² CDHPC will include:

• High-Performance Centre for the Cowboys and Northern Pride’s programs in the NRLW, Q-Cup and other associated competitions.
• New administration workplace areas for both organisations, including meeting room spaces available for community access and use.
• A wet recovery area that can also be used for community use for hydrotherapy or early childhood learn-to-swim classes.
• An indoor field that can be used by the Cowboys and Northern Pride squads but also for managed use by community and school groups.
• Elite training for Queensland Academy of Sport and Pacific Nations athletes.
• Touring, travelling and tropical elite training facility.
• Third party Allied Health, Sports Medicine and Sports Science tenancies.
• Community training field.
• Hospitality spaces such as a cafe a small function room.

The CDHPC requires capital funding of $30m. It is proposed that this be jointly funded by federal and state governments, with a contribution of $15m each. In addition, the North Queensland Cowboys will operate the facility and will commit $10m in funding for operational and administrative costs providing a sustainable foundation into the future.

Benefits to the region

Construction of the CDHPC:

• $34.7m in output for the Cairns LGA
• $12.5m contribution to GRP
• 89 FTE jobs

Ongoing operations of the NRLW team and the CDHPC:

• $12.6m contribution to the Cairns LGA economy annually
• $5.9m contribution to annual GRP
• 62 FTE jobs ongoing
• Cement the region’s reputation as the preeminent destination for women’s sport in Australia
• Build the region’s reputation as a sporting and events destination (including for high performance training), thereby delivering jobs and economic growth through increased visitation
• Enhance health and wellbeing outcomes through increased community participation in a variety of sports
• Build athlete capability and capacity in the lead up to, and beyond the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
• Increase public amenity and activation of a key site located within close proximity to the Cairns CBD
• Enhance liveability which positively contributes to workforce attraction and retention

Additional social and economic outcomes:

• Enhanced health and wellbeing: Establishment of a world-class, high-performance training facility
• Enhanced community connectivity and pride: Promotion of positive role models
• Reduced crime and anti-social behaviour: Expansion of the Cowboys Community Foundation programs, including initiatives addressing domestic violence
• Major Events Precinct: Alignment with Cairns’ vision to attract more sporting events and promote economic growth
• Education and research: Partnership opportunities with local tertiary and vocational educational institutions

Recommendation

The Australian and Queensland Governments make a joint commitment of $30m (50:50) towards capital funding of the Cairns Community, Development and High Performance Centre.

The North Queensland Cowboys will support the project with a $10m commitment in operational and administrative costs ensuring a sustainable foundation for the centre well into the future. 

View Submission - Queensland Government
View Submission - Federal Government

Last updated: February 2025

Advocacy