Cairns stadium on slow burner

MUSIC festivals on par with Townsville’s Groovin’ the Moo remain in Cannon Park Racecourse’s future despite development plans coming to a fork in the road.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said the Cairns Show Association’s refusal to relocate to Cannon Park meant a new scheme was needed, but the venue’s conversion to a multi-use facility was still on the cards.

Meetings will be scheduled with both the Cairns Show Association and the Cairns Jockey Club to decide on their futures.

“When we understand that, we can give them feedback on how council will stand on the proposals,” Cr Manning said.

He added that any moves to build a rectangular stadium, with the showground flagged as a possible site, were still a long way off.

“There’s nothing on the agenda at the moment,”he said. “That stays with our forward works program but the timing is unidentified.”

Cr Manning suggested it would take something like a $50 million government grant or “the NRL deciding to move the Broncos up to Cairns” to bring the stadium plan forward.

Barlow Park has been proposed as another potential site to build a sports stadium, beside the existing running track, but issues remain around parking.

Cairns Show Association manager Ian Moller-Nielsen said talks were underway about whether the showground could provide parking for the Rugby League World Cup at Barlow Park in October and November.

“They want to set up alternative parking outside Barlow Park, so we’re presently in negotiations with the World Cup people,” he said.

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