General News
12 May, 2026
Pet projects now revealed
THE nine Cairns regional divisional councillors have spent a big chunk of their $1 million allocation for discretionary spending for 2025-26.
To date $673,000 has been spent of $900,000 in projects identified, with $227,000 remaining. Each councillor gets $100,000 a year, including Mayor Amy Eden.
The council has released the projects which the funds have been allocated to but not those of the mayor’s.
At the 29 April meeting, Cr Matthew Tickner asked why the mayor’s figures were not included in the latest financial report.
She said it was yet to be finalised …. “so, watch this space”.
A council spokeswoman said the mayor’s figures were not included because they had yet to be allocated.
“A final breakdown of all councillors’ discretionary funding, including the mayor’s, will be publicly available in the 2025/26 annual report,” the spokeswoman said.
The divisional breakdown is:
Division 1 (Cr Brett Moller)
Babinda Community Kindergarten fencing upgrades – $20,245
Gordonvale Town Centre signs – $8000
Munro Street (Babinda), street furniture upgrades and water bubblers – $54,000
Alice Frazer Shelter signs – $2500
Southern Suburbs Rugby League Club scoreboard – $15,255
Roof extension ANZAC Park shelter (Babinda) – $4000.
Division 2 (Cr Matthew Tickner)
Fuller Park playground shade sail – $46,000
Southside Comets Football Club home and away structures – $28,000
Softball FNQ field lighting renewal – $26,000.
Division 3 (Cr Cathy Zeiger)
Agate Street footpath stage 2 – $53,800
Saints Hockey fencing – $37,000.
Division 4 (Cr Trevor Tim)
Kangaroos Rugby League Club LED lighting for field 1– $160,000.
Division 5 (Cr Rob Pyne)
She Shed Cairns on-street works and accessibility upgrade – $65,000
Edge Hill United Football Club fencing – amount not disclosed
Cairns Rotary showground kitchen – amount not disclosed.
Division 6 (Cr Kristy Vallely)
Redlynch Village Green park improvements/playground equipment – $70,000
Richmond Park lighting – amount not disclosed.
Division 7 (Cr Anna Middleton)
Pease Street basketball court fencing – $40,000
Kangaroos Rugby LED lighting for field 1 – shared with Division 4.
Division 8 (Cr Rhonda Coghlan)
Hekili Rowing Club planning – amount not disclosed.
Division 9 (Cr Brett Olds)
Trinity Beach Baseball fencing - $92,000
Marlin Coast Bowls Club (project not detailed) – amount not disclosed.
