General News
27 June, 2026
Parking fees go up
ON-street car parking fees are rising by about 9% in the Cairns CBD.
The hourly rate increases by 20 cents per hour to $2.40.
Casual rates for applicable off street car parks will also increase to $2.40 an hour, capped at $6 for all-day parking, with the exception of the Grafton Street car park, capped at $6.50 for all-day parking as part of the 2026-27 budget brought down by the regional council last week. There will be no change to rates at Lake Street car park – $1.50 per hour, capped at $10 for all-day parking.
Time reductions
Centre median parking remains free, but all three-hour time limit centre parking has been reduced to two hours maximum and will apply from 8.30am to 6pm weekdays and 8.30am to 2pm on Saturdays. Outside those hours, there are no time limits.
The council said it was introducing a series of updates to CBD parking arrangements from 1 July designed to improve bay availability, support local traders and help maintain the city’s parking infrastructure.
“The changes represent the first significant adjustment to parking fees since 2024 and reflect the rising costs of maintaining the city’s parking network,” the council said.
“The updates are designed to support better parking availability, turnover of street parking and encourage use of all-day parking facilities.
“Parking fees remain in line with comparable councils and private operators.
“The changes also include the upcoming closure of the Bunda Street carpark after the landholder elected not to renew council’s lease agreement.”
As part of the budget, $36.4 million in community infrastructure, active travel, recreation facilities and public spaces have been allocated.
Mayor Amy Eden said the budget continued council’s investment in essential community infrastructure across Cairns.
“These projects support day-to-day access, movement and participation for residents and they form part of the broader work needed to strengthen our region,” she said. A major focus is improving footpaths, with $2.6m through the capital works program and an additional $2.1m allocated to the active travel program which delivers high-priority footpath projects, making it easier and safer for residents to walk, cycle and connect with schools, parks, public transport and local services.
Multicultural centre
A total of $6.2m has been allocated toward the Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre, with a further $3m committed the following year.
The project, which is co-funded through the federal government’s ‘Growing Regions Program’, will deliver the first purpose-built facility designed to support and celebrate the region’s multicultural community while providing valuable community services in White Rock and the southern corridor.
Sport and recreation infrastructure also features strongly, with $4.3m allocated toward the Redlynch Community Sporting Precinct as part of a $16m commitment to the project, which also includes $5m from the federal government’s ‘Growing Regions Program”.
The precinct will deliver new sporting fields, lighting, clubhouses, roads and parking, helping meet growing demand for community sport while creating opportunities for participation across all age groups.
About $1.56 million for improvements to parking and internal access roads at the Trinity Beach Sporting Precinct have been set aside.
Additional investments in community recreation include $3.9m for the Jeff Pezzutti Park improvement plan and $540,000 for upgrades to the Goomboora Park car park, ensuring two of the region’s most popular recreational destinations continue to meet community needs.
As part of a targeted focus to strengthen the region’s long-term prosperity, more than $5.6 million has been committed to initiatives that directly drive visitation, create jobs, and strengthen Cairns’ reputation as a leading destination for tourism, events and business.
“Tourism is critically important for Cairns, and we are determined to keep building on that strength,” Cr Eden said.
It includes:
$3.6m for Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ), ensuring Cairns remains front of mind for travellers worldwide
$1.6m to attract and deliver major events such as Ironman Cairns, Australian Festival of Chamber Music, and 7 Cairns Marathon
$5.2m annually for the City Safe program in the CBD.
