Premier Anna Bligh is in Cairns today with more than $2.2 million in additional economic initiatives for the region.

The Premier released the final Cairns Region Economic Future 2012-15 plan following 10 weeks of community and industry consultation.

"In early November we took a draft economic framework to the community and to industry for feedback. We listened to what was important we have delivered.

 "15 new initiatives worth more than $2.2 million have been added to the final plan.

"That takes our investment under the Cairns Economic Future Plan to almost $290 million over the next three years – through projects underway or in the pipeline, including $115 million in reconstruction funding for the areas impacted by Cyclone Yasi.

"The Far North is a major economic powerhouse in Queensland and the next four years offer huge opportunities for this diverse part of the State.

"But without proper vision, planning and investment, opportunities will be missed. This sets a clear path to reach the potential that we know Cairns and Far North Queensland are capable of," she said.

Ms Bligh said the 2012-15 plan followed the strong results achieved through the first Cairns Plan released in 2009.

"After the GFC knocked Cairns for six, my Government stepped in and committed to $116 million in new and accelerated funding into the region – which in under three years has resulted in a declining unemployment rate, employment numbers reaching 135,500, more than 21,000 room night visitors and 566,000 new air service seats.

"We promised a world-class Marine College – we delivered. We promised the Cruise Liner Terminal – we delivered. We promised major road upgrades – we delivered. We promised new air services – we delivered.

"The next four years in Queensland is looking bigger, better and brighter than ever, and with recent investments like the Cairns Entertainment Precinct, the emergence of Cairns as a fly-in fly-out destination for our thriving resources sector and expanding expertise in growth industries like tropical, marine and aviation services – the Far North, with Cairns at its heart, is well places to ensure the local economy benefits" she said.

What's new in the final Cairns Region Economic Future 2012-15 plan:

• $1M to continue to support the Crown of Thorns Starfish Eradication Program. Through Skilling Queenslanders for Work, nearly 100 long-term unemployed people have worked on the Crown of Thorns eradication.
• $484,000 over 3 years for a dedicated investment coordinator, based in Far North Queensland, who will help attract and facilitate private sector investment, helping businesses obtain development approvals for regionally significant projects;
• $216,000 to James Cook University for research into the value of urban design and the integrated management of parasite infections in tropical aquaculture;
• $134,000 to Advance Cairns to help promote Cairns as a base for mining employees and to deliver initiatives from the Tropical North Queensland Regional Economic Plan, designed to help diversify the Cairns economy;
• $100,000 for Cape York Sustainable Futures to promote and support tourism in the region, including business investment and market research;
• $100,000 to explore Cape York Peninsula's potential as an eco-tourism hub and encourage development and jobs growth;
• $100,000 to help raise the profile of local foods products;
• $77,000 to deliver Advancing Tropical Green Build: Connecting Tropical North Queensland Capability to Market (for the construction sector) and promote eco-friendly building practices;
• $21,900 to support the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College in planning their expansion into marine engineer courses;
• $20,000 to support Gulf Savannah Development to explore the feasibility of crop trials in the Gilbert River area;
• $16,800 to help promote investment in pilot training and new composite materials training, including support for the Cairns Aviation Skills Centre facilities business case;
• Convene high level meeting between trade officials and international education providers to identify industry issues and enhance international market and business development opportunities; and
• Identify strengths and investment and business opportunities for the renewable energy industry, including emerging wind resources and the potential of sugar for bio-industrial products, in Tropical North Queensland under Queensland's Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan and to support a Smart Energy Hub for TNQ.

Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Development in the Far North and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said the plan set a clear path to reach the potential that locals already know Cairns was capable of reaching.

"It's one thing to be aware of your potential but it takes real leadership to focus your energies and embark on the journey towards achieving that potential – this plan does exactly that," Mr Wettenhall said.

"The plan works on three levels. It builds on our natural assets and strengths in tourism, agriculture and food, and the aviation and marine sectors; it identifies opportunities to strengthen the long term sustainability of our economy; and it provides positive foundations for businesses into the future.

"Real opportunity lies in the field of tropical expertise for Cairns – it's an international multibillion dollar industry and we are both geographically and technically positioned to buy in during the industry's sunrise period."

  Cairns_plan_2012_Highlights.pdf

 Cairns_Regional_Economic_Future_strategy_web.pdf

ENDS