General News
8 April, 2026
Pay back by tourism group
THE Far North’s peak tourism body is returning funds to ratepayers earmarked for a cancelled sports event.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland was hoping to divert $225,000 for the axed Crankworx Mountain bike festival to other tourism marketing programs.
But Cairns Regional Council voted 7-3 against the TTNQ plan and instead will use the $225,000 on fundamental works, such as water network repairs.
A council report recommended against the reallocation.
Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said that, while TTNQ did a great job, “Crankworx was now not going ahead”.
“So, we’re asking for that $225,000 to come back, which we’ll use, hopefully for another major event or something else down the line, because what TTNQ are asking for didn’t align with what we specifically put the parameters around,” he said.
Mayor Amy Eden said in the current environment, “we cannot justify redirecting that money into other discretionary activity”.
“We are facing real financial pressures and we’ve had to respond to significant and unplanned infrastructure demands, including critical works within our water network. These are not optional. They are essential and they come at a cost,” she said.
Cr Eden said the current funding model for TTNQ was not sustainable.
“ … and it is why the conversation around the visitor levy is an important one, as a user pays approach that allows us to continue to invest in tourism while protecting our financial position and easing the burden on our community,” she said.
Cr Brett Moller (Div. 1) said a tourism levy that “goes to pay for our tourist infrastructure services provided and that provides relief to our residents and ratepayers”.
Division Seven councillor Anna Middleton voted against the motion to pull the funding, arguing that the tourism body provided a strong return on investment.
“TTNQ has come back with what seemed to be a very good business case,” she said.
“This is an organisation that we have an incredibly good relationship with, that we deliver”.
Division four and five councillors Trevor Tim and Rob Pyne also voted against the motion to ask for the money back.
