What future looks like
IT’S 2050 and the sun is breaking through after an early morning sprinkle. A persistent rainbow tries to hold its form as the clouds start to disappear. A new day is dawning on this tropical paradise. My home. The years have been as kind to me as they could be living under a sun that has grown bolder with time and energy. I’m not as quick as I used to be but am thankful I can still walk 18 holes of golf. I’ve long since retired and share my time between the links, my small but manageable garden and pretending to listen to my doddery old husband. My daughter is all grown up but lives close by with her own family. She chose to stay here because of all the wonderful opportunities that have been created over the past 30 years. First-rate education right here in the Far North and a career in innovation waiting at the end of it linked nicely with her love of the place, meaning her brain didn’t drain to the south. Her move into adulthood mirrored her parents somewhat. A bit of travel early on to broaden the mind and a love of the outdoors have made her appreciate what a wonderful place this is to live and work.
The region has changed a lot over three decades or so while retaining everything we’ve ever loved about it.
There are more pockets of high-density living now to accommodate twice as many people and to capitalise on government funding. Town planners have done a marvellous job of overcoming geographic boundaries and linking us with the Tablelands. Public transport and the green train are terrific.
There are precincts and city hubs alive with culture and food feeding the stomach and the soul and bustling retailers trade side-by-side with art galleries.
We have become the number one holiday destination for our northern Asian friends and a playground for our domestic cousins. Of course, they all come to see our Reef and rainforest, which we have nurtured and protected so well. The world now knows they are majestic and robust and are on everyone’s bucket list. We long ago embraced our multicultural heritage as well as becoming Australia’s indigenous heart.
Our visitors fly in on giant planes to one of Australia’s busiest airports, berth in even bigger ships at our deeper port and travel our impressive roads.
It takes me no time at all to get to Palm Cove for lunch with the girls thanks to that wonderful Smithfield bypass. And the ring road was heaven sent to save motorists’ sanity.
We’ve got the footy on tomorrow at our modest stadium and the nation’s biggest festival, Viva Las Tropics, starts next week with 100,000 people here for it.
Life is good in the Far North and it’s all because of a shared vision by our region’s leaders all those years ago.
OF COURSE, THEY ALL COME TO SEE OUR REEF AND RAINFOREST, WHICH WE HAVE NURTURED AND PROTECTED SO WELL. THE WORLD NOW KNOWS THEY ARE MAJESTIC AND ROBUST AND ARE ON EVERYONE’S BUCKET LIST