General News
20 May, 2026
Parks in spotlight
RESIDENTS are being invited to help shape the future of local parks, streets and public spaces across Cairns as the regional council begins community consultation on its new ‘placemaking strategy’.
The ‘Shaping Better Parks and Public Spaces – Placemaking Strategy Community Consultation’ is now open, giving residents the opportunity to share their ideas, priorities and local knowledge to guide how public spaces are planned, designed and activated across the region.
Council is encouraging community members to get involved by completing the online survey and contributing to an interactive map, where they can drop a pin to highlight places they value, identify opportunities, and suggest improvements.
The placemaking strategy will play a key role in guiding future investment and design of parks and public spaces, ensuring they are better connected, more inclusive, and reflective of the region’s identity and community needs.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said community input was essential to creating vibrant and liveable places. “Great places are shaped by the people who use them every day and the feedback gathered during this phase will directly inform planning outcomes,” Cr Eden said.
“Local knowledge matters. You can have all the plans in the world, but if you don’t listen to the people who know a place best, you miss what makes it work,” she said.
“We want to hear what people value, what could be better and where there are opportunities to do things differently.”
Council’s placemaking strategy will guide the long-term planning, design, development and activation of the region’s public space network, helping to create places that bring people together and support culture, events and everyday use.
Have your say:
Complete the online community survey
Drop a pin on the interactive map to share your ideas and identify valued spaces
Community consultation is now open and will close on 31 May 2026.
For more information visit www.bit.ly/4dk2Bzo
