Council to consider Parklands public use

MUNRO Martins Parklands could be available for hire if a proposal to amend its usage is endorsed by the council today.

The proposal includes amendments to the Cairns Regional Council Arts and Cultural Facilities General Policy and the broadening of “third party venue hire ability”.

The campaign to broaden access to the park was championed by Division 5 Cr Richie Bates, who chafed against the venue’s underuse.

If passed, the policy specific to Munro Martin Parklands will read “venue hire for externally-run events must be respectful to the passive recreational setting of the Parklands”.

The proposed schedule of fees would align with Barlow Park, Fogarty Park and Eastern Events lawn.

“Hire fees are based on full cost recovery with the intent of having no adverse budgetary impact for council,” the proposal states.

Not including bonds, costs for the hire of the Parklands start from $1265 per day between 8am and 10pm.

In the paper, community sport and cultural services general manager Linda Kirchner argued that during ticketed events the parklands have enjoyed “consistently high audience numbers of 2000-3000 and since its opening, approximately 60,000 patrons have enjoyed events at the facility.”

In July last year Cr Bates took the matter to a council meeting after complaints from performers and promoters who claimed they had been shouldered out of using the ratepayer-funded venue.

“They want to use this space more – community groups, acts and promoters are talking to me about how they can get access,” he said at the time.

Five months later as the issue was crawling through the council’s agenda, Cr Bates tried to drum up support to host the FNQ Emergency Services Ball at the venue but was voted down.