Call to lead

Local Government election is an opportunity for fresh faces and ideas in the Far North

Cairns will have the rare opportunity to elect a new leader in 2024 from a fresh field of candidates. Cairns mayor Bob Manning said he would not stand for a fourth term when the council rolls into its election on March 16 next year.

It is the first time since 2000 an incumbent Cairns mayor will not recontest. This is to the advantage of fresh mayoral candidates. Now is the time for motivated leaders, those with a compelling vision for the city’s future, to step up.

But so far that field is thin (p14). The Far North will face serious challenges in the next couple of decades, and the actions taken by the coming council will determine, in part, the ability of all sectors within Cairns LGA to respond.

A big concern over the past four years has been effective advocacy.

The council needs to work in greater unison with the region’s state and federal government representatives, as well as other advocacy bodies such as Advance Cairns and Regional Development Australia Tropical North.

The city needs an advocate that communicates frequently and effectively with these entities and aligns priorities to secure timely federal and state government funding for vital projects.

The region is desperately short of housing, an issue that will only become more intense as the population grows.

The region is also going to witness an increasing demand for healthcare as the population ages.

Local sectors have the opportunity to capitalise from higher tier government investment in defence, trade, education and the Olympics.

Areas of the city will also become more vulnerable to climate change. Infrastructure near shore lines and estuaries, such as both the city’s hospitals, will need to be made more resilient. When combined with population growth, the city’s water supply is also at risk.

The region is also suffering a youth crime wave, and a big part of our population is being pushed into poverty by the cost of living crisis. Council plays a big role in solving all of these challenges.

But it’s going to take leaders with energy and intellect.

They must raise their hands in 2024.

– Isaac McCarthy, reporter