City not in the ballpark
Entsch says funding out until stadium site is chosen
WARREN Entsch says there is no funding for a world-class rectangular sports stadium in the city centre because Cairns Regional Council cannot decide where to put it.
“People are critical of the fact that we haven’t got a stadium,” the Member for Leichhardt said.
“That’s because the bloody council haven’t all come to- gether and come up with an agreement.
“Council’s working on it as we speak, but they haven’t come up with an agreement.”
It is no secret Mayor Bob Manning is eyeing the Cairns Showground to meet his election promise to build a new sports arena by the end of this term of government.
Cairns Show Association is in reluctant talks on shifting to Cannon Park racetrack in Woree, but Cr Manning has played down suggestions their current home is being primed for the development.
Mr Entsch considered it the logical location.
“Quite frankly I think it’s the only spot,” he said.
“It has to be a CBD spot, and it’s got to be big enough.”
The council will incur considerable short-term losses from building a stadium at a time when it has committed to keeping down rates, a fiscal tightrope Cr Manning wants to make sure he can balance.
“The federal and state governments can make it a lot easier by kicking a bit of money into the tin,” he said.
“If Warren’s got a lazy $30- $40 million lying around, he should flick it our way.
“I don’t think it’s Warren’s decision to make.
“It’s council’s decision and council will make it.”
Mr Entsch said boasting a high-quality stadium was integral to Cairns becoming the world’s fourth tropical sports conditioning centre for elite athletes behind Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
“The sooner they can get some sort of consensus, the sooner we can actually move on something there. You can’t be critical of anybody for not getting (funding) until you actually identify a site,” he said.
Entsch ruled out Barlow Park as a possible stadium location, saying the city would still need an athletics track.