Reef renewal is a jobs winner
FUNDING to revitalise the Great Barrier Reef catchment might be the biggest win for Cairns in the State Government’s new $90m jobs program.
The Queensland Government has announced that it will inject $10m into the economy to deliver jobs and priority environmental projects in Great Barrier Reef catchments.
The funding is on top of the extension of a further $10m for the Skilling Queenslanders for
Work initiative to increase Work Skills traineeships in construction or conservation and land management and $70m to extend the Back to Work program.
The announcement comes two weeks after a report commissioned by more than 70 conservation organisations argued investment in environmental spending could have a massive benefit for struggling economies in Reef catchment areas such as Cairns and Port Douglas.
Terrain Natural Resource Management chief executive Stewart Christie said there were a lot of environment and landcare groups in Cairns and the Far North which could benefit.
“I really encourage organisations to be able to put together a proposal and get it in, noting that the time for applications is very tight,” Mr Christie said.
Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Sally Mlikota said the Reef conservation funding was welcome, but the bulk of the $90m being aimed at training and upskilling would not help much if the jobs were not there.
“What will bring this city back to life is international tourism, which will be the catalyst of employment and business cashflow, but we all know and recognise this is a long time off,” she said.