CAIRNS ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT — HAS THE QLD GOVERNMENT KILLED IT OFF?

Has the Queensland Government killed off the Cairns Entertainment Precinct project. Or is FNQ being told you can have what the LNP promised during its election campaign, dredging of Trinity Inlet, or an Entertainment Precinct? But not both.

A few days back Local Government Minister David Crisafulli told us the 57 million dollars promised by the previous Government for the project was secure, a statement he made again yesterday in Brisbane to Cairns Mayor Val Schier. But while that meeting was taking place, Premier Campbell Newman was in Cairns saying there’s no 57 million for this project. His Government won’t support it in its current form.

It’s not uncommon to hear a leader say one thing and a Minister say the opposite. But it raises some interesting questions about the future of the project, the way the new State Government operates, and Cairns Regional Council’s advocacy of its 155 million dollar proposal.

Here’s what Minister Crisafulli told us last week when asked about State funding for the C-E-P.

And here’s Campbell Newman

Cairns Regional Council mayor Val Schier

The LNP’s Member for Cairns Gavin King

 

CAIRNS ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT HITS NEW HURDLE

THE PROPOSED CAIRNS ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT (courtesy Cairns Regional Council)

THE NEW QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT HAS EFFECTIVELY TURNED THE IMMINENT CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTION INTO A REFERENDUM ON THE PROPOSED CAIRNS ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT.

The State Government has told the Council it can’t proceed on the project until after the local government elections on April 28. The Council says the delay could compromise the 155 million dollar project, which was based on Federal and State financial support.

Cairns Mayor Val Schier had to use her casting vote to split a tie when Council met to decide whether the project would go ahead. It has strong support in the local arts & entertainment scene, and is generally seen as a generator of much needed jobs in the construction industry. But there has also been vocal opposition to the Precinct based on cost, location, and the existence of other venues around Cairns.

The State Government order to Council is in keeping with election rules that say a council is in “caretaker” mode once an election has been called, and can’t make new decisions. But proponents of the Entertainment Precinct believe the new LNP Government may be backing away from funding commitments made by the previous Labor Government.

CLICK ON THE AUDIO PLAYER TO HEAR CAIRNS MAYOR VAL SCHIER ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT

CLICK ON THE AUDIO PLAYER TO HEAR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER DAVID CRISAFULLI EXPLAIN HIS GOVERNMENT’S DECISION

REPORTING BY BRAD RYAN