The Tier 1 list includes housing-enabling infrastructure, particularly long-term funding for the Mount Peter Priority Development Area, as well as support for the University 2 Reservoir and a sustainable tourism funding mechanism. The council also wants more backing for its plan to make Cairns a leading destination for women’s sport.
Community safety was added as a fifth Tier 1 priority. The council is calling for a more visible police presence in the CBD, investment in prevention and early intervention, support for remote communities and people leaving custody, more crisis accommodation, and help for not-for-profit groups affected by crime and vandalism. These are advocacy requests; the announcement does not mean the Queensland Government has committed funding or approved each proposal.
The Tier 2 priorities include the Cairns Destination Mountain Biking Project, the Redlynch Sporting Precinct, and upgrades to Sugarworld Adventure Playground and Sugarworld Botanic Gardens.
Source: Cairns Regional Council, 28 October 2026: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/news-notices/news/media-releases/opportunities-for-cairns-to-support-new-initiatives
The featured image is an AI-generated conceptual illustration of a generic tropical city and housing construction, with the original Cairns Punjabi News logo overlaid. It is not a photograph of a council meeting or any specific project.
