Safe Again, Clean Again, Cairns Again. This page brings together a practical package of proposals to reset Cairns — not with slogans, but with deliverable plans that tackle the issues people raise every day: safety, youth crime, homelessness, cleanliness, parking, empty shops and land banking. These proposals are designed to work as one system: safer streets bring people back, more people bring activity, and activity is the best crime prevention. Cleanliness and toilets reduce the drivers of disorder. Parking and a free shuttle make it easy for suburbs to enjoy the city again. Vacancy activation brings life back to dead strips. And the youth and homelessness plans create real alternatives to the street at the exact hours when problems peak. I’m publishing these plans publicly so the community can judge them, improve them, and help push decision-makers to act. I’m not asking you to “trust” vague promises — I’m asking you to back a practical reset that can be piloted, measured and scaled.
On this page you’ll find:A diversion-first response to public disorder that removes risk fast without defaulting to criminalisationA 24/7 youth hub and after-hours outreach to cut youth crime when services currently shutA daily cleanliness reset (pressure washing, bins, toilets) so Cairns looks and feels cared forSafe parking and a free CBD shuttle so suburbs can enjoy the city without expensive rideshareStrong action on vacant shops and land banking so the CBD feels alive againA practical homelessness and social housing advocacy plan that provides a safe place tonight and a housing pathway tomorrow
1. Public Safety & Diversion: Public Place Safety Officers + co-response + transfer vehicle + Place of Safety2. Youth Crime: 24/7 Youth Hub + after-hours outreach and transport3. Cleanliness & Amenity: Dawn Clean & Reset + bins + cleaners + toilets4. Parking & Movement: Safe parking hub +free CBD loop shuttle5. Vacancy & Revitalisation: Land banking penalties + incentives + Renew-style pop-ups6. Homelessness & Housing: Safe Place rough sleeper shelter + crisis beds + social housing pipeline7. Suburbs Benefit: why this improves safety, cost of living and property confidence citywide

1. Public Safety And Diversion

“If Cairns wants a safer CBD, we need a response that actually removes disorder from the street and gets people to safety and support. Re-criminalising public drunkenness just creates watchhouse churn and fines that don’t change behaviour. A legislated Public Place Safety Officer model with co-response and transport is the common-sense middle ground: firm on disorder, but smarter than recycling people through the courts.”

1. Summary position I support the objective of safer CBDs and stronger responses to antisocial behaviour. However, re-criminalising public drunkenness risks repeating a policy cycle that is costly, ineffective at reducing alcohol dependence, and likely to produce “watchhouse and court churn” rather than sustained improvements in public safety. Queensland has recently decriminalised public intoxication following decades of national and state-level debate and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody recommendation to decriminalise public drunkenness. Recent reporting indicates the Government is considering reinstating public drunkenness (and public urination) as offences. My core recommendation is that Queensland adopt a health-led, diversion-first public safety model that removes intoxicated and disorderly persons from CBDs quickly and safely without defaulting to criminalisation, by legislating a new authorised role with narrow powers and strong safeguards, integrated with transport, diversion and social work. 2. The practical problem in Cairns (and what the public actually wants) The community concern is not simply “intoxication”; it is the combination of intoxication with harassment, yelling, intimidation, urination, broken glass, and disorder that reduces perceived safety, discourages evening trade, and harms the CBD economy. People want a response that is:• fast,• visible,• able to intervene,• and able to remove disorder from the street. 3. Why re-criminalisation is unlikely to achieve the objective Re-criminalising public drunkenness does not address the drivers of repeat public intoxication—alcohol dependence, homelessness, trauma, mental health, brain injury, and social disconnection. It primarily shifts workload onto police, watchhouses and courts, producing repeat processing, fines that cannot be paid, and short cycles back to the same location.Queensland already has diversion infrastructure and guiding frameworks focused on preventing harm and custody—particularly for First Nations peoples at risk of being taken into police custody due to intoxication. Expanding a diversion-first model is more likely to reduce repeat incidents than recreating an offence that historically contributed to over-policing and custody risks. 4. The limitation of “visibility-only” security models Cairns and other regions invest in visible security and patrols; however, private security generally does not have police powers and is often limited to observation, reporting, and calling police. This creates an “illusion of safety” without changing street behaviour, because the intervention threshold remains police attendance or an emergency escalation.If government and councils fund these services, the public expects capability—not just presence. That capability must come from a lawful framework, not informal expectations. Public Safety Officers 5. Proposed Solution: Public Place Safety Officers (Queensland-authorised), co-response and diversion 5.1 Establish a new authorised role: Public Place Safety Officers (PPSOs) Create a legislated, government-authorised role operating in declared CBD safety zones (e.g., Cairns CBD), designed specifically for public intoxication, disorder, and diversion to safety.Design principle: PPSOs are not police; they are public safety and diversion officers with narrow powers aimed at removing risk and connecting people to services.Proposed powers (narrow and purpose-limited)PPSOs may, in declared CBD zones:1. Direct a person to attend a Place of Safety (diversion centre/safe space/hospital pathway) when intoxication or related behaviour presents a safety risk;2. Temporarily detain for the purpose of safe transfer to a co-responder/transport team (minutes, not hours);3. Issue a lawful direction to leave a hotspot area only where specific disorderly conduct is occurring and diversion is refused/unavailable;4. Seize glass/open containers only where there is an immediate risk of harm and only within declared zones (optional and tightly constrained). What PPSOs must not do • No investigative policing powers• No general search powers (except a tightly defined safety check if legislated)• No watchhouse transport function• No arrest powers beyond existing, general “citizen arrest” thresholds (ideally not used) 5.2 Co-response: pair PPSOs with health and social supports Each operational shift should be a co-response team:• PPSOs (safety, engagement, lawful directions)• a social worker/AOD clinician (assessment, referral, stabilisation)• clinical escalation to Queensland Health/ambulance when requiredThis aligns with Queensland’s existing diversion intent: assisting people to sober up safely and connect to services. 5.3 Transport: a dedicated “Place of Safety Transfer Vehicle" Introduce a dedicated vehicle (van/bus) that removes intoxicated/disorderly persons from the CBD quickly, without using police as transport.Destinations should include:• diversion/sobering-up facilities,• hospital/ED where clinically indicated,• crisis accommodation where arranged,• an out-of-CBD safe space (below).Queensland diversion guidance explicitly includes patrol/transport functions to move intoxicated people to safer places such as diversion centres, home, or emergency accommodation. Safe Space Outside CBD 5.4 Out-of-CBD “Safe Place” (Place of Safety) Establish (or expand) an out-of-CBD safe place with:• toilets, water, shade, supervised sobering spaces• triage access and referral pathways• culturally safe supports• connections to housing, AOD, and health services.Queensland’s diversion model includes diversion centres providing a safe, supported and monitored environment to sober safely and reduce custody risks. 6. Safeguards and accountability (non-negotiables) To ensure this model is safe, lawful, and publicly credible, legislation should require:1. Mandatory training and accreditation (de-escalation, trauma-informed practice, disability/mental health, cultural capability, first aid)2. Body-worn cameras with strict activation rules and auditing3. Strict limits on force (minimal force only for immediate safety; no punitive restraint)4. Independent complaints and oversight (not council-only)5. Diversion-first duty: a statutory requirement that diversion/transport to safety is offered before enforcement pathways6. Medical triage requirement (head injury/withdrawal/medical distress → hospital pathway)7. Non-discrimination duty + public reporting: quarterly de-identified data on outcomes and demographics to detect disproportionality and ensure transparency.This approach is consistent with Queensland’s stated intent to reduce intoxication-related custody risks and improve safety and wellbeing outcomes. 7. Implementation in Cairns: strict steps (operational model) 1. Engage + assess: PPSO + clinician de-escalate and assess risk.2. Triage:o medical risk → hospital/ambulanceo otherwise → diversion/safe place transfer3. Transport: transfer vehicle removes person from CBD within set time targets.4. Record: bodycam + short outcome record (diversion/hospital/police escalation).5. Follow-up: repeat presenters are referred to case management within 24–72 hours (housing/AOD/health pathways). 8. Recommendations I recommend the Government:1. Do not rely on re-criminalisation as the primary response to public intoxication. 2. Legislate Public Place Safety Officers (PPSOs) with narrow, diversion-first powers and strong safeguards.3. Fund co-response teams (PPSO + social worker/AOD clinician) for CBD hotspots.4. Fund a dedicated transfer vehicle so police are not the default transport provider.5. Establish or expand an out-of-CBD Place of Safety aligned with diversion frameworks. 6. Require quarterly public reporting and an independent evaluation after 12 months.7. Ensure the model is consistent with reducing custody risks and preventing harm for First Nations people, consistent with the diversion initiative rationale and the history of public drunkenness reform.

2. Youth Crime

“If Cairns wants youth crime down, we need somewhere for kids to go when everything shuts. A 24/7 youth hub with after-hours outreach and transport is the missing piece—get them off the street, keep them safe, and connect them to real supports. Council can do its part by providing land, like it has for other community infrastructure, and the State funds the program delivery through an experienced operator.”

1. Summary position I support a safer Cairns CBD and stronger responses to youth offending, but the response must be practical, evidence-led and operational in the hours when problems actually occur. In Cairns, there is a clear service gap late at night: when youth are disengaged, unsupervised, or moving through the CBD and suburbs, most youth services are closed. That gap is filled by the street, peers, and opportunity—resulting in break-ins, car theft, property damage and antisocial behaviour. My core recommendation is that Queensland and Cairns Regional Council jointly establish a 24/7 Youth Hub (with after-hours street outreach and transport)—a “safe place” model that is diversion-first, operated by an experienced NGO through a competitive tender, and integrated with health, education re-engagement and family supports. This aligns with Queensland’s existing emphasis on after-hours supports and community-delivered youth justice programs. 2. The practical problem in Cairns (what the public actually wants) The community concern is not just “young people out late”; it is repeat, high-impact behaviour—property crime, vehicle theft, criminal damage, intimidation and disorder—often concentrated in late-night and early-morning windows when supervision and services drop away. Queensland Police provides public crime mapping and statistics tools that can be used to localise hotspot trends and inform place-based responses. The public wants a response that is:• fast (removes risk quickly),• visible (people can see something is being done),• able to intervene (not just observe),• and able to divert young people to safety and support rather than cycling them through courts and short-term detention. 3. Why a 24/7 Youth Hub is a “missing piece” (and already has precedent) Queensland has repeatedly identified the need for after-hours interventions and has funded models that operate through the night. The Atkinson youth justice review explicitly discussed after-hours needs and referenced after-hours services including a Cairns trial and The Lighthouse in Townsville. A strong Queensland example is The Lighthouse (Townsville)—an after-hours diversion service that operates 6pm–8am, seven nights per week, providing outreach, transport, meals/showers, activities, health access and safe beds when home isn’t an option. Queensland’s own youth justice audit and reporting stresses the importance of strategies that reduce serious youth offending and improve community safety through effective programs (not just enforcement). 4. Proposed solution: Cairns 24/7 Youth Hub + After-Hours Outreach (“Safe Place + Re-engagement”) 4.1 Establish a 24/7 Youth Hub (facility + programs) Create a 24/7 Youth Hub in or near the CBD/transport spine with:• supervised safe spaces (separate zones by age/need where appropriate),• food, showers, laundry basics,• quiet rooms and de-escalation spaces,• structured activities (sport, music, art, digital, culture),• education and training re-engagement pathways,• family mediation / reunification supports,• clinical pathways (AOD, mental health, disability, head injury screening and referral).Design principle: this is not “a hangout”. It is a diversion and stabilisation hub with wraparound supports and clear behavioural expectations. 4.2 After-hours street outreach + transport (“don’t wait for them to come”) A hub works best when paired with outreach and transport:• outreach teams engage young people at hotspots late at night,• transport removes kids from risky locations and connects them to the hub, family, safe accommodation, or clinical care.This is consistent with the operational logic of after-hours diversion models like Townsville’s Lighthouse, which uses outreach and transport to pull young people away from hotspots into a supervised environment. 4.3 Operate through a tender to an experienced NGO (community-led delivery) Queensland youth justice already partners with NGOs to deliver services and programs across the state. For Cairns, council/state should tender operations to a proven provider (including local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations where appropriate), with KPIs and independent evaluation built in. 5. Council’s role: provide land and enable delivery (proven local precedent) Cairns Regional Council can play a direct enabling role by providing land on a long-term lease as its contribution to the project—just as it has done in partnership with the State for other community infrastructure.A strong local precedent is the Cairns Meals on Wheels relocation, where public reporting and council materials describe a model involving Queensland Government funding for a purpose-built facility and council providing a long-term land lease. Recommendation: replicate this model: • Council: land (long-term lease), planning facilitation, precinct integration• State: capital + operational funding, program integration (Youth Justice, Education, Health)• NGO operator: staffing, delivery, outreach, case management, evaluation cooperation 6. Safeguards, accountability and “lessons learned” (so it works and stays credible) Other jurisdictions have trialled 24-hour youth hub approaches with mixed outcomes when governance and purpose were unclear. For example, an Alice Springs youth hub operating extended hours was reviewed and recommendations included changes to how it was run and who should operate it. For Cairns, safeguards should include:• clear eligibility and purpose (diversion + re-engagement, not passive congregation),• strong risk management and behaviour standards,• trained staff (trauma-informed, de-escalation, cultural capability, first aid),• formal links to education re-engagement and family supports,• transparent incident reporting and oversight,• independent evaluation at 12 months. 7. Implementation steps (Cairns-ready, staged rollout) 1. Hotspot and service-gap mapping using QPS crime tools + local intel (police, traders, outreach services). 2. Secure site and land lease (council contribution) and funding agreement (state). 3. Competitive tender for NGO operator with mandatory KPIs and governance conditions. 4. Launch after-hours outreach + transport first (fastest impact), then open facility. 5. Integrate pathways: education re-engagement, health/AOD, housing supports. 6. Quarterly reporting; independent evaluation at 12 months. 8. KPIs (report quarterly; evaluate at 12 months) • reduction in repeat late-night youth incidents in defined hotspots (police data + local reports) • number of young people engaged via outreach, and transported to safety • school/training re-engagement and attendance proxies (where permissible)• reductions in harm indicators (injury, intoxication vulnerability, missing-from-home episodes)• proportion of repeat presenters connected to case management within 72 hours• community confidence measures (traders/residents) and perceived safety. 9. Recommendations I recommend Government and Council:1. Establish a Cairns 24/7 Youth Hub with after-hours outreach and transport, designed to operate when current services are closed. 2. Deliver the hub through an NGO tender aligned with Queensland’s community-partnership youth justice delivery model. 3. Use a Council land-lease contribution model (as used for other community facilities) with State capital and operational funding. 4. Require public reporting and an independent 12-month evaluation to guide scale-up.

3. Cleanliness and amenity

“You can’t ask people to ‘use a pub toilet’ and call that public policy. If we want Cairns clean and safe, we need dawn cleaning, proper bin density, and toilets at the hotspots—a common-sense reset that reduces public urination, broken glass and the ‘dead CBD’ feeling.”

1. Summary position I support practical measures that improve safety, amenity and economic activity in CBDs. Alongside any public order response (including diversion-first models), governments and councils must address the environmental drivers of disorder—unclean streets, insufficient bins, and inadequate public toilets—because these directly contribute to:• perceived and actual unsafety,• public urination/odour hotspots,• litter accumulation and broken glass,• reduced foot traffic and night-time trade confidence. My recommendation is a Cairns CBD “Clean & Amenity Reset” package consisting of:1. early-morning pressure cleaning and rapid-response hygiene,2. a CBD bin-density and servicing upgrade plus a visible clean team,3. expanded public toilet provision (permanent + late-night surge options), supported by wayfinding and data.These measures are common-sense, publicly supported, and consistent with Queensland’s Safe Night Precinct intent to reduce late-night disorder and improve safety in and around licensed precincts. 2. The practical problem in Cairns CBD (what residents and traders experience) Cairns’ CBD and night-time economy corridors experience predictable impacts after late trading:• vomit, urine odour, and sticky spills on footpaths and laneways,• broken glass and takeaway waste,• soiled shopfront edges and street furniture,• public urination linked to insufficient publicly accessible toilets (especially for tourists, families, non-patrons and people between venues/transport). A “use a venue toilet” approach is not a functional public policy solution; it excludes non-customers, tourists walking the CBD, people refused entry, and those not currently in a venue. The public expectation is straightforward: the CBD should feel clean, safe and welcoming early each morning, and should provide basic infrastructure (bins/toilets) that reduces disorder drivers. Pressure Cleaning 3. Proposal A: “Dawn Clean & Reset” (early-morning pressure cleaning + rapid response hygiene) 3.1 Core operational model Establish a dedicated “Dawn Clean & Reset” shift in the CBD (e.g., 4:00–7:00am daily; increased capacity Fri–Sun), focused on known hotspots:• taxi ranks and transport interfaces,• late-night venue clusters,• laneways and alcoves,• high-footfall pedestrian spines.Core tasks• targeted pressure washing of footpaths and laneways,• deodorise/disinfect urine hotspots and biohazards,• broken glass sweep and safe disposal,• gum/sticky spill removal,• wipe-down of street furniture and shopfront edges (where appropriate and lawful). 3.2 Service standard and reporting Adopt a simple, publicly reportable service standard (example):• hotspot presentation standard achieved by 7:00am in the core precinct,• rapid response to high-risk hygiene issues (biohazards/glass) within set time targets.This mirrors the approach used in major CBDs where councils run dedicated cleaning teams and encourage real-time reporting for street cleaning and maintenance issues. 3.3 Comparable examples • Randwick Council’s “Blitz” program explicitly includes sweeping, pressure washing, graffiti and chewing gum removal and repairs to bins/benches/pavers to give high streets an “instant boost”. • City of Melbourne publicly describes a seven-days-a-week Clean Team approach to street cleaning and maintenance. Bins and Clean Team 4. Proposal B: Bin density upgrade + a visible CBD Clean Team (presentation management) 4.1 Bin density and servicing upgrade Increase bin availability and servicing to match peak demand (especially Thu–Sun nights and early mornings). Key elements:• tighter bin spacing on pedestrian spines and takeaway clusters,• targeted bins at nightlife edges and transport nodes,• increased collection frequency during peak periods to prevent overflow,• litter and glass hotspot management.As a benchmark for scale, City of Sydney publicly notes it has over 1,400 street litter bins across its local area. While Cairns is smaller, this illustrates the principle: bin density and servicing frequency are core city-presentation infrastructure in major CBDs. 4.2 CBD Clean Team (continuous presentation) Implement a uniformed CBD Clean Team with dedicated precinct responsibility to:• pick up litter continuously,• respond quickly to overflow/illegal dumping,• maintain “always-on” presentation in the core CBD.City of Melbourne describes a dedicated “Clean Team” model operating seven days a week monitoring precincts and keeping the city clean. Public Toilets 5. Proposal C: Public toilets where people actually need them (permanent + late-night surge0 5.1 Permanent toilets (self-cleaning/automatic options) Deliver additional public toilets in the CBD via modern formats (including self-cleaning / automatic facilities where appropriate), located based on:• pedestrian volumes,• late-night incident and urination complaint data,• transport nodes and taxi ranks,• tourism corridors.City of Sydney’s public materials show active delivery of new automatic public toilets and reference a broader public toilet strategy to expand and enhance the toilet network. City of Melbourne publishes a self-cleaning toilet design standard, demonstrating that councils already use codified, vandal-resistant approaches for public toilet delivery. 5.2 Late-night surge options (fast deployment) In addition to permanent toilets, trial late-night surge toilets/urinals in peak periods (Thu–Sun), targeting hotspots. This is a practical harm-minimisation lever to reduce public urination and associated hygiene/amenity impacts. 5.3 Wayfinding and gap mapping Use the National Public Toilet Map as a practical tool to:• identify current toilet coverage gaps and hours,• improve signage/wayfinding for visitors,• ensure toilets are discoverable and accessible.The Australian Government’s health resources describe the National Public Toilet Map as providing information on over 19,000 publicly available toilets (with accessibility and opening hours). 6. Integration with Safe Night Precinct objectives and diversion-first responses Queensland’s Safe Night Precinct framework is designed to reduce late-night alcohol and drug-related disorder and improve safety “in and around” licensed venues. This Cairns package supports those objectives by reducing predictable environmental drivers of disorder:• cleaner streets reduce broken-glass injuries and perceived risk,• bins reduce littering and reduce conflict points,• toilets reduce public urination hotspots, odour and hygiene complaints.This package also complements a diversion-first response model by ensuring the CBD has the baseline infrastructure required for safe movement of patrons and tourists. 7. Implementation steps (Cairns pilot model) 1. Declare the CBD pilot footprint (core spines + nightlife edges + transport nodes).2. Hotspot mapping: integrate complaint data, trader feedback, night-time economy patterns.3. Commence Dawn Clean & Reset (daily; surge Fri–Sun).4. Bin density uplift in the pilot footprint + peak-period servicing schedule.5. Deploy CBD Clean Team (7 days; response standard).6. Toilet uplift:o short term: late-night surge options + wayfinding improvements,o medium term: install permanent self-cleaning/automatic toilets at priority nodes.7. Public reporting: publish simple quarterly outcomes dashboard. 8. Performance measures (KPIs) and evaluation Recommended KPIs (reported quarterly; evaluated at 12 months):• public urination complaints (baseline vs trend in hotspot areas),• cleanliness presentation score (morning trader survey + public survey),• broken glass incidents (where data exists),• CBD foot traffic / trader confidence (proxy metrics where available),• bin overflow incidents and response times,• toilet usage/availability metrics (hours, downtime, vandalism repairs).An independent evaluation at 12 months should assess cost-effectiveness and determine scale-up across additional Cairns hotspots. 9. Recommendations I recommend Government (in partnership with council and relevant precinct governance):1. Implement a Cairns CBD “Clean & Amenity Reset” pilot for 12 months.2. Fund a Dawn Clean & Reset pressure-cleaning and hygiene response shift.3. Increase CBD bin density and peak servicing, and establish a visible CBD Clean Team.4. Expand public toilets (permanent + late-night surge), with improved signage and gap mapping using the National Public Toilet Map. 5. Align the package with Safe Night Precinct objectives and publicly report outcomes.

4. parking and movement

“If Cairns wants a stronger CBD economy, we have to make it easy and safe to come into town. A Pier precinct safe parking hub plus a free CBD loop shuttle is a practical fix: locals can park once, move around safely, and get back to their car without paying a fortune for rideshare. It also helps protect hospital staff finishing late shifts — one solution, multiple wins.”

1. Summary position I support a practical, outcomes-based approach to CBD revitalisation. In Cairns, parking availability and perceived safety when returning to vehicles at night are direct barriers to visitation, especially for residents travelling in from the northern and southern suburbs. When taxis and rideshare are expensive, people simply choose not to come into town. My core recommendation is a two-part “Park Safe + Move Easy” package:1. a high-visibility, multi-level parking expansion at the Pier precinct (via vertical expansion of the existing Pier car park footprint through a formal partnership), and2. a free council/state-funded CBD shuttle loop operating late afternoon to late night to move patrons and workers (including hospital staff) safely back to their vehicles and between key nodes.This approach supports safety, boosts visitation, and reduces late-night street disorder by improving movement and reducing “in-between venue” risk points. 2. The practical problem (what the public actually experiences) Cairns already has a mix of paid and free on-street parking, with CBD time limits intended to manage turnover. However, for night-time economy and longer-stay visitors, the lived experience is different:• “There’s nowhere safe and convenient to park near where we’re going.”• “We don’t want a long walk back to the car late at night.”• “Rideshare/taxis cost too much, so we don’t bother coming in.”Separately, the Cairns community is also seeing heightened concern around safe parking and safe movement for hospital staff, with local reporting referencing “Operation Safe Zone” and calls for additional off-site parking and a free shuttle service for workers. 3. Proposal A: “Pier Precinct Safe Parking Hub” (vertical expansion / high-rise parking on an existing footprint) 3.1 Why this location makes sense The Pier precinct is a logical anchor point because it is:• adjacent to the waterfront dining/nightlife area and within walking distance to the CBD core,• high visibility at night (active precinct, restaurants/venues nearby), and• already an established parking destination at the Pier Shopping Centre / waterfront interface.Cairns Regional Council’s own parking information notes that the underground car park beneath the Pier Shopping Centre is commercially operated. The Pier also publishes operating hours and fee structure (including free short-stay periods), demonstrating it is already a functioning parking asset used by locals and visitors. 3.2 Delivery model (practical and lawful) Because the existing Pier facility is commercially operated, the cleanest pathway is a formal partnership model rather than an informal expectation:• Council–State–Private partnership to deliver a vertical expansion (multi-level structured parking) on the existing car park footprint, subject to engineering, cyclone resilience, and planning approvals.• A clear operational agreement covering: hours, staffing/security, pricing policy, maintenance, disability access, and integration with a CBD shuttle (see Proposal B). 3.3 Design principles (safety and accessibility are non-negotiable) A “safe parking hub” should be designed and managed to a standard the public trusts:• CPTED-aligned layout (open sightlines, no hidden alcoves, good passive surveillance)• High lux lighting, CCTV coverage, help points/intercoms• Lift/stairwell design that prevents entrapment risk• Clear pedestrian paths to shuttle stops and precinct exits• Accessible bays and compliant paths of travel• EV charging provision and e-bike/scooter parking management (where appropriate) 3.4 Pricing and behaviour outcomes The aim is to reduce the barrier to entry for night-time visitation without destroying turnover in prime spaces.Options that typically work in other CBDs:• flat evening/night rate (e.g., 6pm–2am) to encourage dinner/venues• validation partnerships with restaurants/venues (opt-in)• short-stay free windows retained where they drive daytime turnover (consistent with existing Pier pricing structure) 4. Proposal B: Free “CBD Loop Shuttle” (Park-and-Ride for locals + Safe Return for workers) 4.1 What the shuttle does A free CBD loop shuttle removes the last-mile problem:• takes patrons back to vehicles at the Pier precinct (and potentially other satellite lots),• reduces risky late-night walking between venues, taxi ranks and parking areas,• supports workers finishing late shifts (including hospital staff), and• increases visitation by making parking “feel close” even when it is slightly removed from a destination.This model has a clear Queensland precedent: Brisbane City Council operates free city centre loop bus services to move people around the CBD without requiring ticketing. 4.2 Operating concept (Cairns-appropriate) Hours (example):• Thu–Sun: 5:00pm–2:30am (night economy focus)• Mon–Wed: 5:00pm–10:00pm (dinner trade + workers)Frequency (example):• 10–15 minutes peak, 20 minutes off-peakStops (example loop nodes):• Pier precinct (parking hub)• marina/waterfront dining cluster• CBD core spine / night precinct edge• Esplanade interface• hospital precinct connection (set stops to support staff safety and after-hours movement)Note: Cairns Hospital’s own public information identifies key frontage/pick-up areas on Lake Street and The Esplanade (useful for designing safe, well-lit shuttle interfaces). 4.3 “Two birds, one stone” outcome This directly aligns with the local push for improved hospital staff safety and parking solutions. Local reporting has explicitly referenced calls for off-site staff parking and a free shuttle service, and separate reporting indicates shuttle services were being considered/expanded for staff parking arrangements. By designing the CBD loop to serve both:• night-time economy patrons, and• late-shift workers (especially hospital staff),you improve safety outcomes while increasing CBD visitation and spend. 5. Implementation steps (12-month pilot to prove demand and safety outcomes) 1. Establish the partnership pathway for the Pier Precinct Parking Hub (engineering feasibility, approvals, delivery model) noting the Pier facility’s commercial operation. 2. Launch a CBD Loop Shuttle pilot first (fastest win) with published routes, hours, and safety standards.3. Integrate lighting, CCTV, signage/wayfinding at shuttle stops and parking interfaces.4. Use occupancy and usage data to refine stops, hours and frequency (demand-led service).5. Finalise business case for the vertical parking expansion using pilot demand + night economy metrics. 6. KPIs and evaluation (report quarterly; evaluate at 12 months) • CBD visitation proxy metrics (foot traffic where available, night economy trade indicators)• shuttle ridership counts by day/time• reported incidents around key nodes (parking return routes, taxi ranks, late-night hotspots)• hospital staff sentiment/safety survey (partner with HHS/NPAQ if possible)• parking occupancy and turnover at participating facilities• public perception survey: “safe and easy to park and return to vehicle at night” 7. Recommendations I recommend Government and Council:1. Support a Park Safe + Move Easy pilot for Cairns CBD (12 months).2. Implement a free CBD Loop Shuttle, modelled on proven free loop services used in Queensland capitals. 3. Progress a formal partnership business case for a Pier Precinct Safe Parking Hub (vertical expansion on an existing parking footprint), acknowledging the Pier car park’s commercial operation. 4. Design the system to also support hospital staff safe return, consistent with local calls for off-site parking and shuttle-based safety solutions.

5. vacancy and revitalisation

“If we’re going to clean the CBD, improve parking and tackle disorder, we can’t ignore the empty blocks and boarded-up shops that make the place feel dead. Cairns needs a firm but fair deal: penalise chronic land banking, fast-track and subsidise real upgrades, and reboot Renew-style 30-day pop-ups so vacant spaces turn into activity—not eyesores.”

1. Summary Position I support a practical “activate, not abandon” approach to CBD renewal. Chronic vacancy—empty blocks held for years, and empty shopfronts left idle—creates an eyesore, reduces foot traffic, undermines business confidence, and makes the CBD feel unsafe and “dead”. If Cairns is investing in cleanliness, safety, transport and parking, property owners must also be required and incentivised to do their part. My core recommendation is a two-track model:1. Targeted penalties for long-term vacancy/land banking in declared CBD activation zones (via differential rating and enforceable standards), and2. Strong incentives and “meanwhile-use” activation so vacant spaces become productive immediately—especially using proven 30-day rolling licence models like Renew Cairns / Urban Spaces. This approach is consistent with how councils can lawfully use rating categories to shape behaviour (different “cents in the dollar” rates by category), and it is backed by Australian examples where councils have proposed/implemented higher differential rates to reduce long-term vacancy. 2. The practical problem in Cairns (what the public actually experiences) Vacant blocks and shopfronts create:• fewer “eyes on the street” and reduced passive surveillance,• lower pedestrian activity and reduced night economy confidence,• visual blight (boarded windows, grime, weeds, damaged hoardings),• flow-on harm to surrounding traders (the whole strip suffers).Cairns has previously used activation approaches to counter this, including Urban Spaces and later Renew Cairns, which filled empty shopfronts with short-term pop-ups, helping the CBD feel alive rather than vacant. Recent local commentary has again highlighted Renew Cairns as a rent-free, 30-day rolling lease concept worth revisiting as part of a broader CBD fix. 3. Why “leave it to the market” isn’t enough Land banking can be individually rational but collectively harmful: if large sites sit idle awaiting higher returns, the CBD loses momentum, surrounding businesses take the hit, and public investment (cleaning, safety, parking) delivers less value.Vacancy policy also needs to be balanced and enforceable:• it must target chronic, strategic vacancy, not punish legitimate redevelopment delays,• it must include clear exemptions and a simple compliance pathway,• it must be coupled with incentives so owners can say “yes” quickly. 4. Proposed solution: “Activate Cairns CBD” – penalties + incentives + pop-up licensing 4.1 Establish a declared “CBD Activation Zone" Define a mapped zone (core CBD spines + key redevelopment sites). In this zone, apply the package below. This aligns with council-led regeneration planning work already underway to stimulate CBD renewal and infill outcomes. 4.2 Penalty lever: a “Long-Term Vacant” differential rate category (targeted, lawful, exemption-based) Queensland councils already set rates using rating categories (different “cents in the dollar” by category). State guidance exists on the legal requirements for levying rates and charges (useful for building a compliant model). Recommendation Create one or more CBD Activation Zone categories such as:• Vacant Shopfront – Long Term (e.g., ground-floor retail vacant > 6 or 12 months), and/or• Land Banking – Developable CBD Site (e.g., developable sites left idle beyond a defined period without an active development pathway).Rate design (example logic, not fixed numbers):• Year 1 of vacancy beyond threshold: uplift (moderate)• Year 2+: higher uplift• Year 3+: strongest uplift (chronic vacancy)Exemptions (non-negotiable)• active DA lodged and progressing, or building approval in train,• bona fide refurbishment/structural works underway,• documented leasing attempt at market-reasonable settings,• hardship / insolvency / force majeure (time-limited, reviewed). Australian example (proof this lever is used):Frankston City Council has publicly adopted/proposed differential rates to target land banking and long-term vacancy, including rates set at 300% of the general rate for targeted vacant properties in strategic areas. The point for Cairns: councils can lawfully use targeted rating to deter chronic inactivity. 4.3 Minimum presentation standard + enforcement for derelict frontage (simple, visible outcomes) Within the Activation Zone, require owners of vacant premises/sites to meet a basic presentation and safety standard:• graffiti removal timeframes,• hoarding/temporary fencing kept clean and intact,• weeds/overgrowth controlled,• broken glazing/boarding maintained,• lighting at vacant frontages where appropriate.Tie non-compliance to escalating enforcement (not “gotcha” fines—clear notice, time to comply, then penalties). This is about preventing the CBD being dragged down by a small number of chronic eyesores. 4.4 Incentive lever: “Build, Renovate, Reopen” package (fast approvals + fee relief + co-funding) Penalty alone doesn’t build—so pair it with real incentives:(A) DA fee relief / fast-track pathway for activation worksOffer reduced fees and an expedited assessment lane for:• fit-outs, change-of-use to activate ground floors,• façade upgrades and safety improvements,• minor reconfigurations that bring a vacant space back online.(B) Shopfront / façade improvement grants (proven in Queensland)Multiple councils already run matched funding programs for shopfront upgrades:• Brisbane’s Shopfront Improvement program (match funding; application materials detail the model). • Ipswich has used matched funding up to a stated cap as part of a CBD building upgrade strategy. • Cassowary Coast runs a Shopfront Improvement Program with matched funding (showing this works in regional Queensland contexts). Recommendation for CairnsCreate a Cairns CBD version: co-fund façade refresh, lighting, accessibility, security shutters that don’t look like a bunker, signage, and basic improvements that lift the whole street.(C) Subsidies / rebates for bringing vacant space back onlineFor owners who sign eligible leases/licences and activate within a set timeframe:• partial rates rebate for 12 months, or• one-off activation grant tied to occupancy and trading hours. 4.5 “Meanwhile-use” activation: reboot Renew-style 30-day rolling licences (low risk, high impact) Cairns has already done this and can do it again—at scale.Renew Cairns model (why it works):• activates empty spaces while owners await longer-term tenants or redevelopment,• uses a rolling 30-day licence rather than standard leasing,• can be rent-free or low-cost, and can include insurance/indemnity support to reduce landlord risk. Council has publicly described partnering with Renew Australia to enliven the city centre by transforming empty shopfronts into creative spaces. Renew Cairns itself is described as a CBD vacancy rejuvenation project that has now wrapped—meaning the brand and delivery precedent already exist. Recommendation Re-establish a standing program (“Renew Cairns 2.0” or “Urban Spaces 2.0”) with:• an operator (Renew Australia model or local equivalent),• a pipeline of vacant properties enrolled by owners,• curated pop-up tenants (retail, creative, community, micro-hospitality),• simple 30-day rolling licences,• events programming (markets, exhibitions, micro-festivals) to drive foot traffic.This is the “quick win” that makes the CBD feel alive while bigger builds take time. 5. Implementation steps (strict, practical rollout) 1. Declare the CBD Activation Zone and publish the map.2. Create the Long-Term Vacant differential rate category + exemption rules (transparent criteria). 3. Adopt a Vacant Property Minimum Presentation Standard with compliance notices.4. Launch incentives:o DA fee relief / fast-track lane for activation works,o Cairns CBD Shopfront Improvement grants (matched funding). 5. Reboot Renew/Urban Spaces-style activation, starting with the top 20 priority shopfronts. 6. Quarterly public reporting and a 12-month independent evaluation. 6. KPIs (report quarterly; evaluate at 12 months) • number of vacant shopfronts activated (and average activation time),• pedestrian counts / proxy visitation indicators in targeted streets,• reported antisocial behaviour in “dead zone” blocks (before/after),• number of properties moved from “vacant” to “active lease/licence”,• façade/presentation compliance rate,• business churn + retention for pop-up-to-permanent transitions. 7. Recommendations I recommend Government and Council:1. Establish a CBD Activation Zone with a targeted anti-land-banking framework.2. Introduce a Long-Term Vacant differential rate category with clear exemptions. 3. Fund incentives: fast-track activation approvals, fee relief, and shopfront upgrade grants. 4. Re-establish Renew/Urban Spaces style pop-ups using rolling 30-day licences to keep the CBD alive while bigger development proceeds. 5. Publish quarterly outcomes and independently evaluate at 12 months

Homelessness and housing

“The community wants compassion and a CBD that feels safe and usable. A Cairns Safe Place pilot gives people somewhere supervised to go at night — toilets, food, basic hygiene and referrals — while we scale crisis beds and build the social housing exits that actually end rough sleeping.”

1. Summary Position Cairns has visible rough sleeping and overloaded services. The community wants compassion andsafety/amenity.Gap: after-hours beds + low-barrier options + pathways into housing. Solution: a three-layer system that gives people somewhere to go tonight and gets them housed. Three layers1. Immediate safety (tonight): a managed Safe Place / rough sleeper shelter (low-barrier, supervised, meals, showers/laundry connections)2. Short-term stabilisation: more crisis/temporary supported accommodation and step-up/step-down options3. Permanent exits: accelerated social housing supply + supportive housing for high-needs cohortsNational 2021 Census estimated 122,494 people experiencing homelessness, with 23% aged 12–24. For Cairns-specific youth homelessness numbers you’ve got a strong local factsheet: it reports 2,232 people homeless in Cairns (2021 Census night) and 450 aged 12–24. 2. My Signature Proposal“Cairns Safe Place” (dual-use safe space + rough sleeper shelter)A managed, supervised site operating at least evening → early morning (and ideally 24/7 in stages) that provides:• safe, lit, supervised space to sleep/rest• basic amenities (water, toilets, hygiene)• meals and connection to services• triage + referral pathways (health, AOD, MH, DV, youth)• outreach + transport to reduce street camping hotspotsThis can intentionally overlap with existing supports:• Rosies already runs outreach and meals at Barlow Park (Spence St entrance) multiple nights. • Orange Sky operates in Cairns providing free laundry and (where available) showers + connection. “We’re not duplicating services—we’re creating a safe, managed platform where existing services can work more effectively.” 3. The “Quigley Street” reality You can say this plainly without attacking anyone:• Quigley Street was previously a night shelter site; it has been refurbished and is now positioned to provide supported accommodation for six households, delivered with 24/7 onsite supports by Anglicare North Queensland. • That’s valuable—but it’s not the same function as a low-barrier night shelter response to rough sleeping.Advocacy ask: “Great outcome for those six households; now we need a replacement layer for people sleeping rough tonight.” 4. What I'm Asking Local and State Government Ask A — Council enabling package 1. Provide/lease land for a Safe Place site (like your youth hub model)2. Approve a managed site model with agreed rules (no violence, staff control, safety plan)3. Facilitate infrastructure: toilets, lighting, shade, waste services4. Support a pilot contract (12 months) if council can co-fund operations, otherwise contribute in-kind + land and push State fundingAlso note Council already has public housing planning work underway (their housing plan media release gives you a local “Council is acting on housing” hook). Ask B — State funding package 1. Fund additional Specialist Homelessness Services capacity (beds + outreach + case management)2. Fund the Safe Place pilot’s operations (security/trained staff, clinicians, case management)3. Commit to new social housing supply and supportive housing pathways tied to exit targetsYou can point to the State’s existing funding posture in Cairns:• Queensland statements note >$1m committed to the Salvation Army for specialist homelessness support and that >$17m was already committed to Specialist Homelessness Services in Cairns in 2023–24. This supports your line: “We’re not starting from scratch—this is about scaling what’s already being funded.” 5. Stakeholders Tier 1: Potential Partners• Anglicare North Queensland (supported accommodation / supports; also linked to Quigley model) • Salvation Army Cairns homelessness services (capacity + outreach + case management; strong public profile) • Vinnies QLD (tenancy sustainment and homelessness support pathways) • Rosies (meals + relationships at Barlow Park) • Orange Sky (laundry/showers + engagement) • Q Shelter / sector peaks (policy backing + credibility) Ask: letters of support + willingness to join a “Cairns Safe Place Working Group.” Tier 2: Government decision-makers• Council: Mayor/CEO + community services + infrastructure directors• State: Housing, Youth Justice (youth homelessness overlap), Health (ED impacts), Police (hotspot management)Ask: a formal interagency meeting + written commitment to a 12-month pilot and a social housing pipeline. Tier 3: Validators (pressure + legitimacy)• traders/Chamber, tourism bodies, event organisers• hospital/health staff advocates (rough sleeping impacts ED + staff safety)• suburb community groups (tie it back to “citywide benefits”)Ask: public endorsements and co-signed open letter. 6. Cairns Safe Place Pilot (12 months) Hours (staged):• Stage 1: 6pm–6am (peak rough sleeping / street visibility)• Stage 2: expand toward 24/7 once stableSite requirements:• toilets, water, lighting, shade• secure storage (small lockers)• staff base + triage space• cleaning/waste contractStaffing (minimum):• shift supervisor + support workers trained in trauma/de-escalation• partnership roster (Rosies meals nights; Orange Sky laundry/shower shift nearby) • clear escalation pathways to health/ambulance/police Rules:• no violence, no weapons, staff direction mandatory• behaviour-based exclusion with a pathway back (not permanent bans)Exit pathways (what makes it more than a campsite):• daily housing triage• case management for repeat users• direct referral lines into SHS providers and housing assessment

benefits to all suburbs

“I care about the suburbs because that’s where most people live — and where most people are dealing with break-ins and car theft. The CBD plan isn’t ‘for town only’. It’s about cutting crime at the source: after-hours youth support, diversion, outreach and transport. When kids aren’t roaming the city at 1am, they’re not stealing cars in Edmonton or breaking into homes in Redlynch. And when the CBD is clean, safe and easy to park, families from the north and south actually come in, spend money, and enjoy Cairns again — instead of staying home because it’s not worth the hassle.”

Here’s what suburbs get out of this:• Less car theft and break-ins (fewer roaming groups, fewer stolen cars moved around the city)• Less damage and antisocial behaviour spilling into local shopping strips, parks and bus routes• A safer night out without huge rideshare bills — drive in, park safely, free shuttle, home• More jobs + stronger local economy when the city centre is thriving (more visitors, more spending)7). Suburban small business benefitslean-up, less repeat damage, less reactive spending) A thriving CBD creates suburban value in really practical, measurable ways. The simplest frame is: the CBD is Cairns’ economic engine and brand-front door — when it’s safe, clean and active, money flows outward into the suburbs.The strongest points to say (with suburb relevance) 1. Property values and buyer confidenceWhen the CBD feels unsafe or “dead,” it drags on the whole city’s reputation. Buyers and investors ask:• “Is the city centre healthy?”• “Is it safe to go out?”• “Is the city growing or shrinking?”A safer, cleaner, activated CBD increases confidence in Cairns as a place to live and invest — and that improves demand for housing across the suburbs, which supports property values. 2. Insurance, damage, and household costsIf you reduce break-ins, car theft and vandalism, suburbs benefit through:• fewer excess payments,• fewer repairs,• less disruption,• and over time, potentially less pressure on premiums (insurers price on risk, and crime rates are part of risk). 3. More local jobs = more money spent in the suburbsA thriving CBD means:• more visitors,• stronger hospitality/retail,• more events,• more investment and construction.That creates jobs, and those wages get spent in suburban supermarkets, gyms, cafes, childcare, mechanics — not just in the CBD. 4. Better services and infrastructure everywhereWhen the CBD economy improves, council and state revenues are under less strain and can be directed to:• roads and lighting,• parks and sport facilities,• community services,• libraries and local centres.Also, your plan reduces “reactive spending” (constant clean-ups, repairs, enforcement churn), freeing capacity for suburb priorities. 5. Safety spillover (crime doesn’t respect suburb boundaries)Youth crime, stolen cars, and roaming groups move between suburbs and the CBD. When you reduce late-night roaming by:• after-hours youth diversion,• outreach + transport,• and a place to go,you reduce the volume of offending that hits suburban streets. 6. Lifestyle value (why people live in Cairns)Families choose cities that have:• a usable, enjoyable centre,• places to go at night safely,• events, dining, waterfront activation.That lifestyle “pull” is a real driver of demand for housing in suburbs—especially for professionals, families and retirees. 7. Suburban small business benefitsSuburban businesses rely on a strong local economy too. When confidence is up and visitation rises, spending increases citywide—people are more likely to:• shop locally,• renovate,• go out,• use services.
Copyright © Shane Cuthbert 2026 In the spirit of reconciliation, Shane Cuthbert acknowledges the traditional owners of the land upon which he stands and their connections to land, sea and community. Shane Cuthbert pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples and thier leaders, past, present and emerging.