TWO of Cairns Regional Council’s wish list items for funding from the Queensland Government have been granted. While in Cairns for the regional sitting of parliament, Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced that the Palaszczuk Government would invest $935,000 in a new Trinity Beach Community Activity Space (CAS).
He also revealed in Thursday’s sitting that $3m would be provided to redevelop Gordonvale’s Kenrick Park, due to start in the 2023/24 financial year with $6m of initial capital funding.
The council will match the funding of both projects.
The new Trinity Beach centre will be about 300sqm, twice the size of the outdated 40-year-old Trinity Beach Community Centre, which no longer meets the needs of a growing Smithfield and Northern Beaches community.
It will be adjacent to the Trinity Beach Kindergarten and Northern Beaches Youth Activity Space.
Mr Miles said “the growing community of Smithfield and the Northern Beaches deserves a bigger and better space to meet and connect at local events”.
“That’s why we will include a $935,000 investment in a new centre, which will be a new focal point for the local community,” he said.
Local MP, Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said Smithfield and Northern Beaches locals loved to get together.
“The existing centre is incredibly popular, hosting more than 470 events in 2022,” he said.
“The Smithfield and Northern Beaches population is expected to grow 25 per cent in the next 15 years to more than 52,000 people so the new centre will help to strengthen social networks as the community grows.
“With the availability of a bigger and better space, the community will be able to enjoy even more gatherings and activities where they can socialise, share and learn.”
Mayor Bob Manning said the new centre was a priority project identified by the council ahead of State Parliament’s sitting in Cairns.
“This announcement is an outstanding result for the Northern Beaches community, and I want to thank the State Government for recognising the significance of this project,” he said.
“The current facility is more than 40 years old and is an important community centre, used extensively by diverse groups from the Red Cross and Alcoholics Anonymous to playgroups, and exercise, martial arts and art classes.
“This funding will allow for a new community activity space and will become a focal point for local residents to connect, gather, learn, share and play.”
Also on the council’s wish list with matching funding: a Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre at White Rock ($200,000), two sections of the Northern Beaches Leisure Trail ($800,000 state only), expansion of the Smithfield Mountain Bike Trial and support of Crankworx and Cairns Skills and Workforce Planning
