Analysis of the State Budget for 2022/23 indicates the Queensland Government is budgeting significant investment across a range infrastructure types in the Cairns region with $706 million in direct State capital expenditure planned for 2022/23.
The analysis, tabled at Council today, revealed this equated to a capital spend of $2,751 per person in the Cairns region, the sixth highest per capita budgeted spend of any region in Queensland.
However, it represented a decrease of 11% compared to 2021/22 when Cairns was the fourth highest region with $3,089 per person.
The State’s 2022/23 per capita spend for Cairns was 27% less than Toowoomba/Darling Downs; 39% less than the Central Queensland (Fitzroy) region; 18% less than the Townsville region; and 10% less than the Mackay region.
The analysis used the Statistical Area 4 (SA4) population of 256,645, which includes the Cairns Regional Council area, as well as sections of the adjoining local government areas of Douglas, Cassowary Coast, Mareeba, Tablelands and Yarrabah.
Despite recent increases in the most recent State Budgets, capital expenditure per person for the Cairns region over the past 10 years remains the lowest of any region outside South East Queensland (ranked 8th overall).
The report noted that the reduced capital expenditure for 2022/23 was partly due to a number of significant investments now being largely delivered or finalised, including the Smithfield Bypass, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 4) Kate to Aumuller Street, and the Cairns Convention Centre expansion.
While not specifically listed in the forward estimates, the Queensland Government Budget Papers also include funding commitments for:
- Cairns Water Security – Stage 1: $107.5 million pending finalisation of the Business Case and matched Federal funding; and
- Cairns Marine Precinct (expansion of the precinct and development of a Common User Facility): $150 million.
