COMMUNITY CONSULTATION SUMMARY REPORTMay 2019

Global Tourism Hubs (GTH) are an integrated strategy for Queensland that incentivises the private sector to support the delivery of the government’s policy objectives.

A GTH is designed to:

• deliver world-class tourism infrastructure - accelerating tourism growth and supporting local infrastructure opportunities

• develop integrated resorts with a broad range of tourist related facilities and attractions and other tourism infrastructure

• support the government’s broader tourism strategy by encouraging more direct flights from Asia and increase visitors’ length of stay, spend per night and repeat visitation

• deliver catalytic projects that support city building objectives and other complementary projects

• optimise broader community gains including; regional jobs, investment and associated flow-on developments including enhancing public realm

• provide high-quality accommodation and a range of experiences encouraging longer visitor stays and greater tourism expenditure

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GLOBAL TOURISM HUBS

On 28 October 2017, the Queensland Government announced a proposed Global Tourism Hub (GTH) for Tropical North Queensland, bringing a dynamic new tourism opportunity to the region.

The Cairns CBD meets the Queensland Government's criteria for a Global Tourism Hub location in that it is:

• located within close proximity to a major population centre with a catchment of at least 150,000 people within a 70km radius of the regional centre

• near an operational international airport or an airport that is capable of being upgraded to international standards

• has well-established transport networks and significant existing tourism infrastructure with identified growth potential

• includes significant capital investment to create a development that attracts international tourists, where construction commences within 18 months of contractual close

2017

2018

TIMELINEHEADING

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

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PROJECT STATUS (AS OF MAY 2019)

The Queensland Government has identified its preferred site for the development of the Tropical North GTH by partnering with Ports North. The site is on Port North's strategic port land within the Cityport precinct at Wharf Street, Cairns. It comprises of a total area of approximately 4.4 hectares.

In March 2019 three highly-respected players in the entertainment industry were invited to compete for the Tropical North Global Tourism Hub. The shortlisted Proponents were:

• Hard Rock International

• Reef Casino Joint Venture

• Destination Cairns Consortium (The Star Entertainment Group, Far East Consortium (Australia) and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises)

The shortlisted Proponents will be invited to lodge their fully-developed proposals in 2019.

The preferred proponent is expected to be announced in late 2019/early 2020 with construction anticipated to commence Q3/Q4 2020.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

Between Monday 8 April and Friday 3 May 2019 the Tourism Development Projects Division within the Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games undertook another round of community consultation on the Tropical North Global Tourism Hub.

To facilitate community discussion, the Queensland Government released four design exemplars (sketch ideas). The sketch ideas were developed for illustrative purposes only and not final designs of the Tropical North Global Tourism Hub.

The community consultation was available electronically using the online engagement tool Social PinPoint.

Hard copies were also available at the Cairns Regional Council Customer Service Centre, Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning office in Cairns and at eight libraries (Babinda Library, City Library, Earlville Library, Edmonton Library, Gordonvale Library, Manunda Library, Smithfield Library and Stratford Library).

The community was also invited to contact the Project Team if they required a hard copy of the survey posted to them (Reply Paid).

DESIGN EXEMPLARS

HOW THE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION WAS PROMOTED

• Online advertisement appeared on the News network (geotargeted to Cairns)

• Print advertisements in Cairns Post

• Advertisements on the Tropical North Global Tourism Hub Facebook page

• Articles in the Cairns Post

• Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games website

• On the Queensland Government's Get Involved website

• An email was sent to the Tropical North Global Tourism Hub stakeholder list

Between Monday 8 April 2019 and Friday 3 May 2019 there were:

• 551 total visits to the Social PinPoint page

• 67 online survey responses to the Social PinPoint page

• Nine hardcopies were returned via Australia Post (Reply Paid)

• Visitors to Social PinPoint spent an average of 16 minutes on the site

Respondents advised that it is important that the GTH has:

• Trees, shade, undercover areas utilising the wider natural environment

• Entertainment areas that could cater for outdoor performances, sports, pop up food festivals or interactive cultural activities

• Items available to purchase that are quality and authentic with local arts and craft available

• Unique and remarkable design

• Unobstructed views of the water and mountains

• Sufficient parking

• Connectivity to its surrounds (including landmarks, the Port and CBD)

• Local stories integrated into the development so that visitors leave the GTH having learnt something about the area and its history.

Some respondents also questioned the viability of additional retail in the GTH due to current high volume of vacant tenancies within close radius.

RESULTS

The Queensland Government wants to ensure that the Tropical North Global Tourism Hub is quintessentially Cairns and a place that both locals and tourists will want to visit.

Input and feedback from the community consultation has been sent to the project’s shortlisted Proponents to help them deliver an iconic Global Tourism Hub that is representative of the Tropical North - relaxed, laid back, outdoor and with the underlying themes of the reef, rainforest and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Keep in contact with the Project Team via:

• Web: www.ditid.qld.gov.au/tropicalnorthgth

• Social: www.facebook.com/TropicalNorthGTH

• Email: tropicalnorthqld@ditid.qld.gov.au

• Phone: 1800 100 424 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm AEST)

• Post: Tourism Development Projects Division, Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games, PO Box 15168, City East, QLD, 4002

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

This publication has been compiled by the Tropical North Global Tourism Hub Project Team ofTourism Development Projects, Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games.© State of Queensland, 2019

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