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Southern corridor PDA can secure Cairns' housing foundations
Cairns Regional Council is prioritising the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor as a key housing development area, aiming to provide 18,500 homes for 42,500 residents. To fast-track development, Council has endorsed the Securing Cairns Housing Foundations plan and is urging the State Government to declare the area a Priority Development Area (PDA).
Council has committed $1.5 million (50% of planning costs) to support the initiative but stresses that external funding is essential to cover critical infrastructure, preventing cost burdens on ratepayers. Mayor Amy Eden emphasises that the PDA process will help secure State and Federal investment, ensuring affordable and sustainable community development.
The project aligns with the Queensland Government’s Securing Our Housing Foundations strategy, which focuses on accelerating land release and home construction. Located between Edmonton and Gordonvale, the 3,300-hectare corridor represents Cairns' last major greenfield development opportunity.
Council news in brief
Council outlines its Federal Election advocacy priorities
Council has announced its advocacy priorities ahead of the Federal election, which needs to be held by 17 May. Read more
CQUniversity MOU signing
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden and CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Nick Klomp have officially signed a new four-year Memorandum of Understanding. Read more
JCU MOU signing
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden and James Cook University Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding between Cairns Regional Council and JCU until the end of 2028. Read more
Council tenders and procurement
Current opportunities to tender for Cairns Regional Council work and procurement opportunities are listed below.
- Corporate Travel Services: Cairns Regional Council is is inviting tender submissions from suitably qualified Respondents for competitive pricing relating to corporate travel services. The required services may include arranging flights (domestic and international), travel insurance, car hire, bus or train travel and accommodation. Closes 4.30pm, 18 March 2024
Businesses or individuals must create an account in Tenderlink to apply for Council contracts or tenders. You will need your Australian Business Number (ABN) at hand. All current public tenders are also listed on our Tenderlink website.
Workshops, training and industry events
Workforce Evolve workshop series
Need help finding talent to grow your business? These six 90-minute weekly workshops are facilitated by specialist Workforce Evolve coaches and cover topics like business planning, workforce design, employer branding, frontline management tools and resources, change management, employment essentials. Join all six workshops to become Workforce Evolve Verified.
Cost: Free
When: 25 Feb to 1 April 2025
Where: Online
Community Cabinet in Cairns
Community Cabinet is an opportunity for local families, workers, and business owners to meet directly with the Premier, Cabinet Ministers and Queensland Government executives to discuss local and regional opportunities, unique to the regions of Queensland. Request to attend the reception or a 15-minute meeting with a Cabinet Minister.
Cost: Free
When: 2 March, 3pm - 6pm
Where: Cairns
Fee-Free Tafe for Small Business
TAFE Queensland and Cairns Chamber of Commerce are working together to provide a training opportunity in small business. Under this arrangement, TAFE Queensland will deliver the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB40320) in March and April 2025.
During this 16-week course, you will develop and execute a tailored business and financial plan and gain the skills to boost your business potential, by participating in collaborative workshops, and learning from your peers and experienced business mentors under TAFE Queensland's Fee-Free TAFE funding.
Expressions of interest close 5pm Tuesday 4 March 2025.
Developing Northern Australia Conference
This annual conference brings together talent from across the north with industry, government and investors to explore sectors of greatest opportunity and learn more about doing business north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
If you’re passionate about working to advance Australia’s north and you have insights to share with the conference delegates – apply now to present at DNAC25. Presenters come from all areas of government or industry, Northern Australia business, research, commerce, culture and community. Apply to present before Friday, 7 March 2025.
When: 22-24 July
Where: Cairns Convention Centre
FNQ Industry Breakfast 2025
The FNQ Industry Breakfast is your chance to learn about current and upcoming projects and related supply chain opportunities in the Far North.
Over breakfast you will hear speakers from:
- Cairns Regional Council
- Powerlink Queensland
- Hansen Yuncken
- Department of Transport and Main Roads
- Department of Housing and Public Works
- Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
Cost: $77
When: 25 March, 7am - 9.30am
Where: Cairns Convention Centre
Tropical North Queensland
Welcomes You Cairns workshop
Join the TNQ Welcomes You in-person workshop on key topics including destination pride, guest mindset, meeting guest needs and storytelling. Businesses and volunteers that welcome and host guests, such as hotels, venues, transport, tours, events, attractions, retail and hospitality should attend.
It is recommended industry complete the online Tropical North Queensland Welcomes You program before attending the in-person workshop.
Cost: Free
When: 25 March, 9.30am - 11.30am
Where: Cairns Harbourside Hotel
Grants and business support
Disaster assistance grants for businesses in North and Far North Queensland
Small businesses and non-profit organisations impacted by the North and Far North Tropical Low flooding event commencing 29 January can now apply for disaster recovery grants and concessional loans to help with clean up and re-instatement costs. The Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants of up to $25,000 are available to help you with the costs of clean-up and recovery including equipment and materials to undertake clean-up, engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of the property damage and disposing of debris or damaged goods.
Disaster assistance loans for businesses in North and Far North Queensland
Financial assistance is now available for small and family businesses impacted by recent heavy rainfall and severe flooding in North Queensland. Disaster Assistance Loans and Essential Working Capital Loans have been activated for businesses in Cairns. These loans are designed to support small and family businesses to re-establish operations relating to repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment, repairing or replacing buildings and restocking inventory to resume operations.
Eligible small and family businesses can apply for:
- Disaster Assistance Loans – Up to $250,000 to support essential recovery efforts
- Essential Working Capital Loans – Up to $100,000 to assist with immediate operational costs, including wages, rent, and creditor payments
To apply visit the QRIDA website or call 1800 623 946.
Disaster Support - Survey
The Queensland Government is ready to support small and family businesses owners experiencing the impacts of the flooding in January/February in North Queensland. Helping you get back on your feet is priority so the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business is seeking information to determine what is needed most during this challenging time. Please fill out the survey to help the Government understand the impact on affected businesses and what assistance is required: Northern Queensland Rainfall & Flooding February 2025. More information about the survey is available on Business Queensland or by phoning 13QGOV.
Free R&D training for Queensland SMEs
CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, is calling for expressions of interest for ‘Innovate to Grow: Queensland’, a free eight-week research and development (R&D) training program, aimed at helping Queensland small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) transform innovative ideas into research-ready projects across a range of sectors. Applications close 16 March 2025.
Find a grant
You can search for grants based on different criteria, including your industry, objectives, goals and your business turnover range. Searching for keywords (e.g. 'agriculture' or 'start-ups') can help to narrow down your options and find more appropriate support for your business. Many grant opportunities are provided on grant and support program websites, including:
Queensland Government:
Australian Government:
Industry Quick Snippets
Reducing Red Tape
The Queensland Government is committed to reducing red tape that impacts the productivity of small and family businesses. The Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) is focused on identifying and removing unnecessary regulatory barriers to help businesses thrive. To better understand the challenges you face, the QSBC is collecting red tape examples from small and family businesses. If you've encountered a law, policy, process, or practice that is too complex, costly, time-consuming, or unnecessary, we want to hear from you! Your input will help shape improvements and advocate for meaningful change. Share your examples here.
Industry in focus
This section features a monthly industry overview and key economic data for priority industries identified in Council's Economic Development Strategy.
The Healthcare and Social Assistance industry is the largest in Cairns by value added to the economy and employment. Cairns, as the primary service centre in the FNQ region, plays an important role in supporting the continued growth and development of the industry.
In 2022/23, the local aviation industry directly generated an economic impact of $2.0B output, $1.3B value add and supported more than 17,456 jobs in Cairns.
Smart Green Economy | Reef Credits Case Study
Help protect the Great Barrier Reef with the Reef Credits Scheme! This innovative program rewards farmers for reducing runoff, improving water quality, and supporting the reef's long-term health. Discover how GreenCollar and Eco-Markets Australia are making a difference and join the effort to safeguard this natural wonder. View the full case study on the Cairns Smart Green Economy website.
Stop wasting, start saving with ecoBiz
One of the biggest expenses for business is water, energy and waste bills. But there’s an easy way to save, through ecoBiz. And the best part is, their services are completely free for Queensland small businesses.
With the help of an ecoBiz expert, you will be able to develop an action plan to help your businesses save money and increase efficiencies.
With over 1000 businesses registered from all over Queensland, 90% of businesses recorded an increase in productivity and savings.
By the numbers
- Unemployment rate Cairns LGA (Sep 24): 2.9%
- Jobseeker recipients (Jan 25): 8,270
- Monthly job advertisements Far North Queensland (Jan 25): 5,871
- Value of building approvals (2024-25 Dec FYTD): $266 million
- Cairns Airport arrivals (Jan 25): 425,246
- Cairns Airport arrivals (2024-25 Jan FYTD): 3,001,276
Free access to local economic data for Cairns
Council can provide project-specific data to assist you to quantify economic impact or jobs created. This can be used to support grant applications, business cases for new projects in the region. To find out more, contact Council’s Economic Development team at economicdevelopment@cairns.qld.gov.au.
The Black Business Finder (BBF) is Queensland's online Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business directory. Commissioned by the Queensland Government's Industry Capability Network, the BBF connects project owners to Indigenous suppliers of goods and services.
Share your feedback
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Council business resources
Visit our Business and Economic Development web pages.
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