Delivering for Barron River and Far North Queensland: Projects Underway, In Construction or In Planning
When I was elected, I promised that Far North Queensland would no longer be an afterthought.
That means more than announcing projects. It means securing the funding, getting projects through planning and design, starting construction and seeing them through.
Across Barron River and Far North Queensland, that work is now happening.
Here is a snapshot of the projects currently being delivered, where they are up to and what they will mean for our community.
COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND LOCAL FACILITIES
⌛ Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre
Where we are: Construction underway.
Completion: Late 2026, with the official opening planned for Chinese New Year 2027.
The $4 million Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre is being built opposite the Chinese Friendship Gardens in Edge Hill, with $2.7 million contributed by the Queensland Government. It will preserve and celebrate the rich Chinese-Australian history of Far North Queensland and provide a space for education, research, performing arts and community events.
⌛Trinity Beach State School Fence
Where we are: Project progressing for delivery in 2026.
After years of advocacy, Trinity Beach State School is receiving a new, safer perimeter fence. This is a small project with a very important purpose — keeping students safe and giving staff and families confidence in their school grounds.
⌛Freshwater State School Multi-Purpose Hall
Where we are: Construction underway.
Completion: Mid-2027.
The new multi-purpose hall will provide Freshwater students with a modern court, performance stage, storage, solar panels and weather-protected play areas. This is a project I worked closely with the school community to secure, and it is fantastic to now see it moving from years of advocacy into construction.
⌛Community Hall Upgrades
Where we are: Funding secured and works progressing.
Completion: Progressively through 2026.
Six important community facilities are receiving investment following the devastation caused by the Jasper floods — Machans Beach, Stratford Bowls Club, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Koah and Kuranda. These halls are the beating hearts of their communities, and making them stronger and more resilient is an important investment in FNQ.
JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
⌛Cairns Courthouse Upgrade
Where we are: Stage One complete, further works underway.
Completion: Mould remediation expected by mid-2027.
The $19.3 million Cairns Courthouse upgrade includes a dedicated domestic and family violence courtroom, safe room, security improvements and refurbished facilities. Thanks to local advocacy and calls from the community, additional mould remediation is also being undertaken to ensure the courthouse is safe and fit for purpose.
⌛Breach Bail, Go to Jail for both youth and adults
Where we are: Legislative reform delivered, with further reforms being advocated.
The Government has now expanded Adult Crime, Adult Time to address serious repeat youth offending while on bail, and I am continuing to push for stronger consequences for adult serious repeat offenders who breach bail. My position is simple: if an adult is on bail and commits another serious offence, there must be meaningful consequences.
⌛Cairns Youth Justice School
Where we are: Provider appointed and implementation underway.
Ohana for Youth has been appointed to deliver the new Cairns Youth Justice School, supporting high-risk young people aged 12 to 17 who are on youth justice orders. The school will combine education, behavioural reform, mentoring, family support and structured supervision to break the cycle of offending.
HEALTH AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
⌛Cairns Triple Zero Operations Centre
Where we are: Construction underway.
Completion: Expected to be operational in early 2028.
The $31.9 million Queensland Ambulance Service Triple Zero Operations Centre will provide modern facilities for the emergency call takers and dispatchers who answer Queenslanders’ most urgent calls for help. It will also be designed for greater resilience during cyclones, floods and other major events.
⌛Cairns Hospital Expansion
Where we are: Early works progressing, head contractor tender released.
Completion: 2031.
The more than $1 billion Cairns Hospital expansion is the biggest health investment in the Far North. The masterplan provides a long-term roadmap for expanding and modernising the hospital, with construction of the next major stage progressing towards commencement.
⌛Cairns Hospital Transit Lounge
Where we are: Planning and delivery progressing.
The transit lounge expansion forms part of the broader Cairns Hospital investment and will improve patient flow by providing better support for people who are medically ready to leave hospital but may need assistance before returning home or travelling onwards.
ENVIRONMENT AND THE REEF
⌛Reef Restoration and Water Quality
Where we are: Major new investment underway.
Completion: Program runs through to 2031.
The Queensland Government has committed an additional $330.5 million through to 2031 for the Queensland Reef and Catchment Water Quality Program. The investment supports practical action to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff, restore landscapes and improve water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.
⌛Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
Where we are: Construction underway.
A new $600,000 Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is being delivered on Green Island, building on the incredible work already being done by Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre volunteers. The new facility will help care for more sick and injured turtles while strengthening conservation and environmental tourism in the region.
⌛Lake Eacham Upgrade
Where we are: Detailed design following community consultation.
Completion: Staged over approximately three years.
The Lake Eacham day-use area is being upgraded to improve accessibility, visitor facilities, water access, viewing areas, car parking and the walking track while protecting the site’s environmental and cultural values. Community consultation has concluded and the feedback is now informing detailed design.
SPORT, RECREATION AND TOURISM
⌛Smithfield Mountain Bike Park
Where we are: Master plan complete; delivery progressing.
Completion: Late 2028.
The $15.5 million investment will transform Smithfield into a world-class riding destination, expanding the network to more than 85 kilometres of trails. The project will strengthen Cairns’ position as the reef, rainforest and riding capital of Australia and create opportunities for major events in the future.
⌛Wangetti Trail
Where we are: Construction progressing on remaining sections.
Completion: 2026.
The Wangetti Trail is a 94-kilometre coastal adventure trail connecting Palm Cove and Port Douglas. The project is designed to deliver a world-class walking and mountain biking experience while creating significant tourism and economic opportunities for the region.
⌛Barlow Park Upgrade
Where we are: Design and planning progressing.
The Barlow Park redevelopment will deliver a new grandstand, improved athlete facilities, accessibility upgrades and increased seating from 1,700 to 5,000. It will provide Cairns with a major sporting and events facility ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and leave a lasting legacy beyond the Games.
⌛Brothers Stan Walker Park Upgrade
Where we are: Funding committed and project progressing.
The upgrade at Brothers Stan Walker Park will improve facilities for one of our important grassroots sporting communities. It is part of a broader investment in local sporting infrastructure to give clubs better facilities for players, families and volunteers.
⌛The Big Paddles — Lake Placid
Where we are: Development application lodged; project progressing.
The $677,000 Tourism Icons Investment Fund commitment will support a new Queensland tourism icon, The Big Paddles, alongside a flood-resilient rafting centre, visitor facilities, training spaces, hospitality and community areas at Lake Placid. It is about strengthening an existing FNQ tourism experience while making it more resilient to our wet season.
⌛Reef Magic IV
Where we are: Project progressing following $4 million funding commitment.
The Queensland Government has committed $4 million towards Reef Magic IV, a new 32-metre high-speed catamaran designed to expand access to the Reef Magic pontoon and increase visitor capacity. It is an investment in tourism, local jobs and the future of Cairns as Australia’s gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
ROADS AND TRANSPORT
⌛Barron River Bridge
Where we are: Planning and design progressing.
Completion: Targeted for 2031.
A new Barron River Bridge is being delivered to replace the existing bridge on the Kennedy Highway. This $245 million investment will provide a safer and more reliable connection between Cairns, Kuranda and the Tablelands.
⌛Cairns Western Arterial Road
Where we are: Construction phase progressing, with service relocation works underway.
Completion: Section 1 targeted for 2032.
The CWAR duplication between the Redlynch Connector and Captain Cook Highway is moving ahead, with utility relocation works progressing and further construction stages to follow. This is one of the most important congestion and growth projects for Cairns, and I will continue pushing to keep it moving as quickly as possible.
⌛Captain Cook Highway
Where we are: Reconstruction and resilience works progressing.
Works are continuing on sections of the Captain Cook Highway affected by disaster events, alongside longer-term investment to improve safety and resilience. This is a critical transport and tourism corridor for the Northern Beaches and wider Far North.
⌛Kuranda Range Road
Where we are: Disaster recovery and resilience works continuing.
Following the damage caused by Cyclone Jasper, reconstruction and betterment works are continuing across the Kuranda Range. The priority is restoring a reliable connection while improving the road’s resilience to future extreme weather.
⌛Bruce Highway Upgrades
Where we are: Multiple projects under construction, with further projects commencing progressively.
Completion: Program continuing through to 2030.
The $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program is delivering upgrades from Gympie to Cairns, including pavement strengthening, wide centre lines, intersection improvements and bridge works. As at June 2026, 11 projects were complete and 46 were underway, with more projects to commence progressively.
HOUSING
⌛Social and Community Housing Across FNQ
Where we are: Hundreds of homes under construction or contracted.
The Queensland Government is continuing to deliver social and community housing across Far North Queensland, with 561 homes in FNQ under construction or contracted. These projects are particularly important as we work to give families, seniors, people with disability and vulnerable Queenslanders access to safe and secure housing.
⌛Woree Social and Affordable Housing Project
Where we are at: Construction is underway, with modular homes being delivered and installed.
Completion: Progressive delivery.
The Woree project will deliver 490 social, affordable and specialist disability homes, making it one of the most significant housing projects in the region. It is designed to provide safe, accessible housing while supporting seniors, people with disability and families across Cairns.
⌛Cairns Youth Foyer
Where we are: Early 2027
The Cairns Youth Foyer is a 40-unit support housing facility under construction at 1 Patience Street in Manoora. Set to open in early 2027, it provides stable accommodation and 24/7 onsite assistance for homeless youth aged 16 to 25 who commit to work, education, or training.
⌛QBuild Cairns Housing Manufacturing Expansion
Where we are at: The Portsmith manufacturing facility is being expanded, with production capacity increasing by 40 per cent from July 2026.
Completion: Expanded production operational from July 2026; ongoing program.
The expansion means more modular homes can be manufactured locally and transported to communities across regional and remote Queensland. It also creates local jobs and apprenticeship opportunities while helping overcome some of the workforce and weather challenges involved in traditional construction.
DEFENCE AND MARINE INDUSTRY
⌛Norship Northern Gateway Upgrade
Where we are: Funding secured and project progressing.
A $5.37 million Queensland Government investment, matched with private co-investment, is supporting Norship’s Northern Gateway Project at the Cairns Marine Precinct. This will strengthen Cairns’ maritime sustainment capability and position the region to take advantage of growing defence and marine industry opportunities.
⌛Cairns Common User Facility
Where we are: Private-sector expressions of interest underway.
The $387 million Cairns Common User Facility is progressing through the next phase of attracting private-sector partners to help deliver and operate the facility. It has the potential to significantly expand Cairns’ marine maintenance, repair and overhaul capability and create long-term skilled jobs.
