THE start of a new $50 million CQUniversity campus in the Cairns CBD has been bogged down in negotiations between the institute and the Federal Government.
The campus – on Cairns Regional Council land on the corner of Grafton and Hartley streets – was announced more than two years ago and both major parties committed to the project last year during the federal election campaign.
Funding was confirmed in the Federal Budget in October last year.
CQU Cairns associate vicepresident Jodie Duignan-George said the university had worked with the regional council to agree on terms for the transfer of land for the site, “with the terms of the disposal being conditional upon receiving funding from the Commonwealth to build the campus”.
“The university is currently working with the Commonwealth on additional requirements relating to the project funding,” she said.
“The new CQUniversity Cairns CBD campus received an election funding commitment in the 2022 October Federal Budget.
“As a major project, a period of planning will be required once funding is received.
“CQUniversity looks forward to the progression of this project and delivering a facility that will support the future education, training and research needs of Cairns and the Far North.”
A spokeswoman for Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said “the October 2022–23 Federal Budget delivered on the Albanese Government’s $50 million election commitment towards the Central Queensland University – Cairns CBD campus project”.
“The project is currently in planning, and we are working with all relevant stakeholders to progress arrangements for the project,” she said.
In May last year CQU vicechancellor and president Professor Nick Klomp described the project as “shovel-ready”.
“Not only will the new CQUniversity Cairns campus development create more than 300 short-term construction jobs, it will employ more than 300 people once complete and will continue to produce skilled local graduates for years to come,” he said.
“The new campus will also generate more than $500m in economic activity for the region over its first decade of operation, the positive ripple effects of which will be felt across The new campus could support up to 4000 students a year by 2030.
Modelling by Cummings Economics shows 330 jobs in construction (80 direct) and more than 300 jobs directly from expanded university operations, up to 500 jobs (indirectly) over the long term, a $41m boost to the region’s economy during construction, up to $70m a year over the long term and total contribution of $549m to the region’s economy over 10 years.
