CITY’S BIG PREMIERE
Council to close Florence St, beam show to parklands on December 15
AN INNER-CITY street will be shut down while footage of local talent is beamed into Munro Martin Parklands when the Cairns Performing Arts Centre rolls out the red carpet.
The stage is set for a December 15 premiere headed up by the Cairns Choral Society, schools and other Far North musical performers.
Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said the gala opening of the centre would be a celebratory affair spanning the CBD.
“We will have the show in the performing arts centre and live-stream that across to 3000 or 4000 people at Munro Martin Parklands,” he said.
“They can watch the production on the big screen and be part of it – we want to open it up to as many people as possible.”
Florence St will be shut to traffic on the night so the new centre and Munro Martin Parklands can be opened to pedestrians.
“People can walk from one across to the other,” Cr Manning said.
“One group will be going to the opening, the others will have their deck chairs and blankets for a picnic in the park.”
The council has endorsed a plan for permanent pedestrian upgrades to Florence St to provide an improved “tropical urbanism” link between CPAC and the parklands.
Cr Manning said the walkway through what has been dubbed “The Precinct” was still a year off realisation.
CPAC’s construction budget has blown out from the initial $66.5 million to $70.4 million following “scope changes”.
A spokeswoman said the council was confident the aluminium composite cladding erected around the building’s exterior measured up to strict fire safety standards.
Works yet to be completed include the external foyer feature screen, internal fit-out, landscaping and civil works, alongside rigorous testing of new technology throughout the centre.