What is Cairns doing wrong?

YOU have to wonder what Cairns is doing wrong, when Townsville can attract so much money and attention from the Federal Government.

Our cousins down the highway were pledged $200 million yesterday by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to secure a water supply for the city.

OK, sure, Townsville has been screaming about its water issues for ages, and it’s great that someone has finally listened.

And the Coalition came to the table – albeit at the final hour last week – to keep the Mossman Mill in business.

But you can’t help think that Cairns is getting thrown the odd bone every now and then, while a significant chunk of taxpayers’ money is being thrown at Townsville.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning certainly feels the same way, pointing out yesterday that the allocation of federal and state money to build a new stadium for the North Queensland Cowboys, upgrades to the Reef HQ Aquarium, and new plans to droughtproof Townsville was a seemingly “never-ending road”.

He says water security is also an issue in the Far North, correctly illustrating the lack of attention on the proposed Nullinga Dam, on the Tablelands.

With 52 of Cairns’ finest captains of industry venturing south last month on the “Convoy to Canberra”, you would hope that we are actually getting listened to.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has reportedly worn out the carpet along Parliament House’s hallways trying to help get the city’s wishlist of infrastructure funded. With a federal election just around the corner, let’s hope that the massive amount of funding being spent in Townsville is matched up here. Daniel Bateman daniel.bateman@news.com.au