Shaping our future

To support the growth of tourism and provide cost-of-living relief to local ratepayers, advocate to State Government to provide enabling legislation that will allow councils to introduce a visitor levy if they choose. A modest, 2.5% levy on accommodation in Cairns could raise up to $16 million and more to be used for increased tourism marketing, event attraction and ease the burden on ratepayers by covering the cost of maintaining and enhancing tourism assets like the Esplanade and Lagoon.

Providing year-round free green waste would provide cost of living relief for our ratepayers and make it easier to maintain yards throughout the year, particularly in the lead up to a cyclone. It would also ease the pressure that our current scheduled free green waste periods places on our waste transfer stations. Investigate the mechanisms with fellow Councillors and Council officers to explore the introduction of free green waste dumping year-round.

I’m proud to be Australian and I’m proud of our anthem. The inclusion of the national anthem at the start of our Council meetings has been introduced to foster a greater sense of community pride, civic engagement, and connection with our shared Australian identity. This is a grass roots initiative for local talent from all walks of life who are proud to call Australia home and I hope this encourages all Cairns residents to feel welcome, involved, and proud of their city and their country. If you’d like to perform the national anthem at a future council meeting, get in touch: amy.eden@cairns.qld.gov.au

Establish an online platform to engage the community in sustainability initiatives and environmental stewardship.

Seek investment to improve and expand walking and biking trails for recreation and connectivity.

Developing a city-wide plan to enhance pool facilities and water-based recreation opportunities.

Plan and invest to improve pedestrian infrastructure for safer and more connected neighbourhoods. As part of the 2025-26 Active Travel budget, $2 million has been allocated in a new pilot called the Neighbourhood Pathways Program, with extensive community consultation held late last year. The community was asked to identify small-scale pathway related projects they believe will enhance the quality of life in their neighbourhood – connecting people with people.

Formerly known as Kenrick St Park, this revitalised community park was opened in late-February to enhance green space and recreational opportunities in the Gordonvale area. Covering 5.7 hectares, Pyramid Parklands Gujura is one of our region’s largest premier, recreational parks, and responds to future growth and development in the southern part of the Cairns Regional Council area. The $6 million stage 1 redevelopment was jointly funded by the Queensland Government, which will provide up to $3 million for the project.

Engaging the community in shaping the future of Cairns’ iconic Botanic Gardens.

Secured Federal funding of $5 million in January to be matched by Council to enhance sporting facilities in the stage 3 redevelopment, boosting recreational and community sports participation. This stage of the redevelopment will include new rectangular fields, new oval field, accompanying amenities, internal roads and carparking. Future stages will include completion of remaining sporting fields, covered courts and nature-based recreation area.

Initiate a long-term vision for the development and upgrade of this key community space.

The Cairns City Precincts Urban Regeneration Project is looking at the unique challenges and opportunities of delivering well-located, higher density housing and quality spaces in our CBD and neighbouring inner suburbs. This masterplan will deliver a vision for the CBD and two neighbouring precincts – the Major Events Centre (Barlow Park and Cairns Showgrounds) and the health precinct (Cairns Hospital and JCU Health and Innovation Precinct), including a roadmap of costed projects and policy recommendations. Council is aiming to present a final Precinct Plan for review and endorsement by the community in April-May 2025.

Pushing for investment in sporting infrastructure to cater to growing community needs.

Council has secured an additional $87.5 million from the Federal Government towards the $472m Cairns Water Security Project Stage 1 to match the state government’s commitment. We thank the Albanese Government for this commitment, providing cost of living relief to Cairns residents and allowing for our city’s growth into the future.

Secure funding to repair and enhance outdoor recreation spaces at Lake Placid.

As a first step in a broad redevelopment, lobby for funding to develop a comprehensive masterplan for the future of the Showgrounds site.

Bringing new voices to the table to drive economic development, innovation, and investment in Cairns and providing direct and unfiltered feedback channel from business owners. If you’re interested in attending a future Business Roundtable, please email me with the subject line “Business Roundtable”: amy.eden@cairns.qld.gov.au

Champion the development of a high-performance sports facility to support elite athletes and attract sporting events.

Enhancing transparency and public safety with live crime and security data reporting.

Reassessing safety strategies to address emerging challenges and improve community well-being.

In March, I hosted a roundtable with Attorney General Deb Frecklington and local state MPs Terry James and Bree James at Council, along with key stakeholders across police, community services, resident advocates, and youth workers. The discussion was robust, constructive, and reassuring, with a range of ideas and insights put forward to the State Government as part of the broader fight against youth crime.

Ensuring Council’s Australia Day events are held on January 26 for the first time in many years.

Engaging with government stakeholders to accelerate housing development and affordability.

Construction of the new Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre in White Rock will be fast tracked following Council securing vital funding for the facility in late January. The Centre will deliver social facilities and key support and outreach services for residents of the White Rock and surrounding areas, as well as Cairns’ diverse multicultural community. The centre’s design will be guided by the findings of extensive community and stakeholder engagement, which identified the need for flexible and multipurpose spaces, as well as integrating indoor and outdoor spaces.

Announce panel for this major milestone event to celebrate the city’s rich history and cultural heritage.

The next phase of our vision for Cairns to be premier destination for women’s sport in the nation is the release of an action plan. This will drive initiatives to increase opportunities, recognition, and participation for women in sport and provide tangible steps to achieve that vision.

Engaging with State Government Ministers and relevant stakeholders to accelerate housing development and affordability in the Mt Peter Southern Growth Corridor. The PDA and associated trunk infrastructure are the first steps in a large-scale project that will create an estimated 18,500 new dwellings. The Mt Peter Southern Growth Corridor is the only remaining greenfield development area of this scale within the Cairns Local Government Area. We need to get this project right to ensure we deliver well planned, liveable communities within Mt Peter.