Residents to be asked if they want second casino
OPINIONS from residents about a $1 billion waterfront tourism development, includ- ing a second casino in Cairns, are being sought during public consultation starting today.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones will open a pop-up shop at Cairns Central shopping centre where people can visit and have their say.
She said the Global Tourism Hub with a casino was “an exciting proposition for the Tropical North Queensland tourism industry but the government would not proceed without feedback from locals”.
“More tourists, staying longer and increasing their visitor spend, equals new jobs and investment in Queensland,” Ms Jones said.
“We’ve seen the benefits of the $3 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane project and a global tourism hub in Cairns would deliver much-needed tourism infrastructure for North Queensland.
“Cairns was identified as the first cab off the rank with the government’s Global Tourism Hub policy – a plan to secure new investment in world-class tourism infrastructure across Queensland.”
Ms Jones said the government would discuss the proposal with Cairns Regional Council as well as the business community.
MS Jones said the proposal would also be discussed with tourism, property and development representatives.
When former treasurer Curtis Pitt announced the hub in October he caught the council unawares with no one having any idea about the proposal.
Ms Jones said the hub had to be included within a 70km radius of Cairns but the government had identified a preferred site within the Cairns City Port precinct.
“A global tourism hub in Cairns, if chosen, would integrate with the state’s project to expand the Cairns Convention Centre,” she said.
The government kicked off the project with the release of a Registration of Interest (ROI) process on October 30.
The deadline has now been extended to January 23 next year because of the interruption of the State Election.
The pop-up shop will be open for about two weeks and the consultation is expected to end early next year. The state development department will review the feedback before submitting it to the government.