$50m confirmed for CQU Cairns campus
The $50m Central Queensland University campus project has escaped the budget razor gang, with funding to flow for the transformational CBD project from next year.
Reconfirmed in Tuesday’s budget, the money will go towards the new CQUniversity campus at a former post office site on the corner of Hartley and Grafton streets, which is expected to trigger plenty of new development in the surrounding area. The second CQUniversity campus in Cairns CBD is expected to lead to an increase in student numbers from 2000 to 4000.
CQUniversity associate vice-president Far North Queensland Region Jodie Duignan-George said: “CQUniversity is pleased to see the government is maintaining its election commitment to a new
CQU Cairns campus through the latest federal budget.
“We know how much this project means to the Cairns community, particularly for the education and economic opportunities it will create, so we’re keen to progress this as soon as possible.”
Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan was pleased to see confirmation of the $50m in funding to be provided over the next four years, which along with funding for the marine precinct’s Common User Facility, is set to help drive the acquisition of highly skilled workers to the Far North.
“This comes on the heels of an announcement today to the Cairns business community by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk of $39m towards early works for the CUF, and we are also delighted to see $50m for the CQU CBD campus earmarked to flow from next year.”