JEWEL OF CBD
$65m vision to redevelop civic centre and park
MUNRO Martin Park will take centre stage in a $65 million revitalisation of Cairns’ entertainment facilities.
Cairns Regional Council is today expected to vote in favour of progressing with the overdue project, which will include the historic park transforming into an outdoor amphitheatre and gardens, and the ageing Civic Theatre torn down and replaced with a much larger venue.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning has vowed the project, which includes a $2.2 million upgrade of the Tanks Arts Centre, will continue with or without support from the state and federal governments.
A NEW entertainment precinct based at Munro Martin Park will take centre stage in an “overdue” revitalisation of Cairns’ major performing arts assets.
Cairns Regional Council is expected today to commit to progressing with a new Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) on the current site of the ageing Civic Theatre.
The new theatre would be paired with redeveloped parklands across the road, featuring an outdoor amphitheatre and tropical gardens.
The development has been called The Precinct and estimated to cost $65 million.
The council is also expected today to commit to a $2.2 million upgrade of the Tanks Art Centre.
This will take place in November and is scheduled to be completed by February, in time for work to start at CPAC.
The new theatre and parklands are expected to be open 18 months later.
The precinct would be funded from the council’s capital works budget over the next three years, but the council will seek funding from state and federal governments.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said if any government support was not forthcoming, the project would still move forward.
“The council will fund this and this is going ahead,’’ he said.
“The Munro Martin Parklands will start in a couple of months’ time and the Cairns Performing Arts Centre will go out to tender probably around August.
“We will, of course, be talking to the State Government and the Federal Government about funding.
“We have already spoken to them about it.
“If we say we’re going to go out and build it, subject to them approving funding, if they don’t approve funding then the council will fund it all itself.
“But I suggest to the state and federal members that would be frowned upon by the people of Cairns, especially when you consider what’s gone to other places.”
The establishment of an entertainment complex in the Cairns’ centre has been a sore spot for the city since a complex initially proposed for the waterfront about three years ago was scrapped.
The $154.6 million project relied upon $57.3 million from council, $97.3 million from the State and $40 million from the Federal Government.
When the Newman Government walked away from the project, the current council followed suit.
Cr Manning said his council had always remained committed to upgrading the city’s entertainment facilities, especially the Civic Theatre.
He said council had consulted with the city’s major arts groups about what was needed.
“We’ve been talking about a performing arts centre in this town since 2008 and before,” he said.
“We’re talking about rebuilding the facility that’s there now.
“We’re enhancing it with this outdoor venue and botanical parkland on a historical site, and we have been talking and consulting with groups as we have gone along.
“I think there’s a time and a place for everything, and there’s a time when you’ve got to get moving on something and just get it done.”