Advance Cairns
Email Newsletter: June 2016  
 
Regional Advocacy

Welcome from the CEO

This is my first newsletter as CEO of Advance Cairns and need to record my delight in being offered the role and I thank the Board for the confidence they have bestowed on me. I am looking forward to the future with gusto as we work collectively and collaboratively to bring greater opportunities to grow and develop our city and region. There are lots of opportunities ahead of us as I am now exploring after just 10 days in the chair.

I need to thank the interim CEO Rob Giason for his steady hand and guidance over six months as Advance Cairns conducted their recruitment process, and I also need at this point, to place on record, my appreciation of the efforts of Mark Mathews the previous incumbent in this position whose tenure concluded last December. This past week also saw the departure, after 4 years with our organisation, of Linda Richardson who was the Business Operations and Engagement Manager. Linda has become well known to many of you and her organisation skills and member engagement activities will be missed. We all wish Linda well in her next journey and are thankful for her time with us.

It is that time of the year again and soon you will all receive membership renewal letters. We rely on your support in keeping our doors open so as to do the important regional advocacy and coordinated economic development work that we do. There is a renewed focus on northern development issues as this newsletter goes to print and Advance Cairns has been there front and centre in ensuring that your support and messages are being heard. You will no doubt be following our presence in this important space as the Federal election campaign is being rolled out. As this newsletter is being formulated we have just had a State budget brought down and there will be more of what that means for our region in the weeks ahead.

 
Regional Events

State Budget Breakfast with Hon Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer

Tues 21 June - Cairns Hilton Hotel

Join us for this exclusive breakfast event with Queensland Treasurer, Hon Curtis Pitt MP to present on the 2016-17 budget, followed by a Q&A session from the floor facilitated by Trent Twomey, Chair, Advance Cairns.

Don't miss out and book your ticket today - REGISTER NOW

Advance Cairns Members Cocktail Event

Thurs 23 June - Shangri-la Hotel

Don't miss the Advance Cairns Annual EOFY Cocktail Event to hear an update on the successes of the organisation over the past 12 months from Chair, Trent Twomey, and to formally welcome our incoming CEO, Kevin Byrne.

For more information and to book your ticket:  REGISTER NOW

 
Regional Business

2016-17 STATE BUDGET WINS FOR REGIONAL QLD

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has revealed the 2016/17 Queensland Budget. 

We welcome the following funding commitments towards our regional priorities: -


Cairns Innovation Centre - contribution of $10m James Cook University (JCU) for the construction of the $50 million Cairns Innovation Centre (CIC).


Bill Fulton Bridge - $19.8 million in 2016-17 out of a $34.2 million total spend to improve transport infrastructure to mitigate peak hour traffic and increase access for emergency services.


The Precinct - Comprising The Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Munro Martin Parkland - $15 million in 2016-17 towards the new centre on the site of the existing Cairns Civic Theatre.


Hann Highway - $4 million in 2016-17 out of a $19.9 million total spend to progress the bitumen sealing of the Hann Highway (Kennedy Development Road), as part of the Northern Australia Initiative.


Aviation Route Development - $33.5 m committed to the Advance Queensland: Connecting with Asia Strategy over four years to increase Queensland's share of the Asia tourism  market and grow tourism jobs in regional Queensland. TTNQ can access the funds for the following: Destination marketing, Aviation Attraction Fund, Digital capabilities.


For the complete Regional Action Plan for Tropical North Queensland - CLICK HERE

 
Regional Development

$42.6 MILLION TO GET HANN HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS UNDERWAY

The reliability, efficiency and safety of the Hann Highway will be improved under a re-elected Coalition Government, with $42.6 million to kickstart progressive sealing and widening works.  

Under the plan, two sections of the Hann Highway will be upgraded with a focus on sealing, widening and strengthening works which will make the road less susceptible to flooding and wear and tear caused by heavy vehicles.
 

CITIZENS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef will benefit from a re-elected Turnbull Coalition Team with the recent announcement of $1.3 million commitment for the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef (COGBR) initiative.  

Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch recently joined with Alex de Waal, CEO of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, and other stakeholders to announce the commitment, which will invite people from all around the world to become Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef through a central online platform.  READ MORE

COALITION TO DELIVER $1 BILLION BOOST TO PROTECT GREAT BARRIER REEF

A re-elected Turnbull Government will deliver a $1 billion boost to protect the Great Barrier Reef by tackling the two biggest challenges – climate change and water quality.


A new $1 billion Reef Fund recently announced is part of the Coalition’s comprehensive Plan to Protect the Great Barrier Reef, which builds on $461 million in Reef funding already
committed since the Coalition came into office.  READ MORE
 

TURNBULL‐JOYCE GOVERNMENT DELIVERS VITAL CANCER CENTRE FUNDS

Far Northerners will benefit from a re‐elected Turnbull‐Joyce Government with the recent announcement of a $1.5 million commitment to the COUCH Cancer Help & Wellness Centre.

Minister for Rural Health, Fiona Nash recently joined Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, to announce the commitment, which will be life‐changing for cancer patients across the Far
North.

A WELCOME SHOT IN THE ARM FOR MALARIA

The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University welcomes the $1.06 million Australian Tropical Medicine Commercialisation Grant recently announced in Cairns by Federal Minister for Trade and Investment Steven Ciobo.
The grant will support the formation in northern Queensland of a commercial venture by AITHM in collaboration with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for the production and testing of a new malaria vaccine.

Malaria kills about 700,000 people each year.  At the AITHM laboratories in Cairns and Townsville, researchers are tackling the complex challenges posted by the disease, including the mosquitoes that transmit it and the five species of parasite that can infect humans.

INSURER WORKING WITH JCU

Leading insurers IAG and Suncorp are partnering with the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University (JCU) to study the impact of tropical cyclones on strata properties in North Queensland.


The study is to help better understand the impact of wind-driven rain and water entry, which affects insurance costs for residents in strata properties, and is a major cause of damage to buildings.

 
What's On

RICH AND RETIRED - RETIREMENT WORKSHOP

18 June - Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort

If you are aged 40 to 60 -this is a 'must-attend' event so you can take control and take action toward planning your rich retirement!

Get all the informatiom you will need and hear from:-
- Experts on how to plan properly & holistically.
- Experts on Property and the Sharemarket
- Experts on Superannuation and Self Managed Super (SMSF)
- Experts on helping you Transition to Retirement.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK

DEBT RECOVERY SEMINAR

6 July 2016 - WGC Lawyers, 1A water Street

Top 10 tips for getting paid:  what you need to knw about effective debt recovery.   

To secure your place, contact:  Belinda Down

TOBRUK MEMORIAL POOL - SEMINAR

The Tobruk Pool Redevelopment presented MMP with an opportunity to investigate and experience the long and deep history embedded in the original building and its association with the heroes of Tobruk.
With Council’s desire to retain the original façade, our concept needed a sensitive, innovative solution to ensure both old and new sit harmoniously in the surrounding urban context and make it’s make in today’s modern world.


Title:             Tobruk Memorial Pool
When:          23 June, 2016.  5.30 – 7.00pm
Where:         The Cairns Institute, main lecture theatre, room D3.054

Presenter:    Michael Martino
Video link:    From 6pm, Townsville room  17-101
Cost:             Free to attend but please register           CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

QUEENSLAND FUTURES SUMMIT

24 August - Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Many eminent Queensland Leaders will be presenting at the Queensland Futures Summit on 24 August 2016 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For registration and further details ... READ MORE

 
Member News

Not an Advance Cairns Member? Join Today

Advance Cairns welcomes new members Pacific Hotel and CPB Contractors who recently joined the organisation.


If you are interested in becoming a member of Advance Cairns, simply EMAIL our office and we will organise for one of our Board Directors to meet with you personally discuss ways in which we can work together to build a sustainable and prosperous TNQ.

Advance Cairns Farewells CHHHS CEO

The board of Advance Cairns recently farewelled outgoing CEO of CHHHS, Julie Hartley-Jones.  The board took this opportunity to thank Julie for her contribution to the regional community and wish her every success in the future.

 
Phone: (07) 4080 2900 Address: 51 The Esplanade
Cairns QLD 4870
Australia
Email: admin@advancecairns.com
Web: www.advancecairns.com
 

Unsubscribe     Web version     Forward to a friend