Far North Queensland

Regional delivery — Queensland Budget 2023-24

$1.7B
Capital program
8
Tracked initiatives

Highlights

  • New youth detention centre near Cairns
  • Great Barrier Reef International Marine College expansion
  • Torres Strait Islands Marine Infrastructure Program
  • Vehicle Immobiliser Trial in Cairns

Health & social services

Social housing

$206.5M investment

Capital works & projects

31 projects from the Regional Delivery Plan.

Health5 projects
Thursday Island Hospital redevelopment$9.5M in 2023-24 (out of $66.4M)
Cairns Hospital range of projects (incl. major expansion)$37M in 2023-24 (out of $389.3M)
Mer (Murray) Island Primary Health Care Centre replacement$1.7M in 2023-24 (out of $8.8M)
Bamaga Hospital hydraulic pipeline replacement$3M in 2023-24 (out of $3.8M)
Atherton Hospital redevelopment$7.1M in 2023-24 (out of $86.4M)
Education5 projects
Malanda State School covered courts enclosure$1.3M in 2023-24 (out of $1.4M)
Western Cape College - Weipa new building$10.3M in 2023-24 (out of $11M)
Great Barrier Reef International Marine College expansion$8M in 2023-24 (out of $16M)
Woree State School new hall$5.9M in 2023-24 (out of $6.7M)
Gordonvale State High School specialist classrooms$754,000 in 2023-24
Transport5 projects
Horn Island passenger jetty and wharf upgrade$6M in 2023-24 (out of $8.5M)
Bruce Highway, Cairns Southern Access Corridor (Stage 5), Foster Road$1.1M in 2023-24 (out of $225M)
Captain Cook Highway, Cairns CBD to Smithfield upgrade$6M in 2023-24 (out of $359M)
Cairns Western Arterial Road duplication$30.9M in 2023-24 (out of $300M)
Torres Strait Islands Marine Infrastructure Program
Housing2 projects
Horn Island affordable housing project$672,757 in 2023-24 (out of $961,057)
Staff Accommodation Program (rural and remote)$12M in 2023-24 (out of $21.1M)
Safety4 projects
Cairns Safer Streets and Midnight Basketball$750,000 in 2023-24 (out of $1.5M)
Cairns police facility upgrade$1.4M in 2023-24 (out of $20M)
Far North Queensland Youth Detention Centre (near Cairns)
Youth Co-responder Teamspart of $96.2M statewide over 4 years
Infrastructure3 projects
Cairns Marine Precinct - Common User Facility$5.6M in 2023-24 (out of $360M)
Torres Strait Islands community fuel resource upgrade$752,400 in 2023-24 (out of $1.1M)
Coen Airport facilities upgrade$100,000 in 2023-24 (out of $1.4M)
Community3 projects
Atherton Neighbourhood Centre redevelopment$3M in 2023-24 (out of $4.1M)
Cullen Point Campground and Mission Site development$1M in 2023-24 (out of $2.9M)
Splash Parks for Port Douglas and Mossman$900,000 in 2023-24 (out of $1.5M)
Environment4 projects
Kaban Wind Farm capacity purchase agreement$343.7M in 2023-24
Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program (Mareeba, Palmerville Station)$450,327 in 2023-24
Wangetti Trail$10.4M in 2023-24 (out of $47.1M)
Barron Gorge Hydro Maintenance$3.3M in 2023-24

Source: Regional Delivery Plan. Not all projects have published amounts.

Region-specific budget initiatives

Youth Co-responder Teams$29.9MExpandedAnnounced

Teams of youth workers and police engage with high-risk young people to divert them from offending and break the cycle of youth crime, part of the government's $446.4 million community safety package.

General Government operating, $96.2M over 4 years and $17.9M per annum ongoing across Youth Justice ($78.1M) and Police ($17.8M). The $29.9M in 2023-24 combines the Youth Justice ($24.459M) and Police ($5.447M) line items.

Helping Seniors Secure Their Homes$11MExpandedAnnounced

Up to $30 million helps seniors install security upgrades so they can feel safer in their own homes.

2022-23: $4M2023-24: $11M

General Government operating, up to $30M over 2 years (including $15M held centrally if needed)

Vehicle Immobiliser Trial$10M totalNewAnnounced

Residents in Cairns, Townsville and Mount Isa can get help to install vehicle immobilisers, making it harder for cars to be stolen.

General Government operating, $10M over 3 years held centrally, administered by the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport. Annual split not disclosed.

New Youth Detention Centres (Woodford and Cairns)$14.7MExpandedCapitalAnnounced

New youth detention centres at Woodford and near Cairns, plus interim measures, increase capacity to detain young offenders and reduce the number held in police watchhouses.

General Government, total $89.7M over 3 years ($78.1M new funding + $11.6M existing) to address youth detention capacity. The $14.7M is the 2023-24 operating line; capital for Woodford construction is subject to commercial negotiation.

Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program$2.8MContinuingAnnounced

200 Indigenous land and sea rangers care for Queensland's environment using traditional knowledge, supporting First Nations jobs and conservation.

2023-24: $2.8M2024-25: $15M2025-26: $15.7M2026-27: $16.4M

General Government operating, $49.9M over 4 years and $16.4M per annum ongoing (indexed)

Remote Community Freight Contracts$22.2MExpandedAnnounced

Freight subsidies help reduce the cost of getting goods to remote and very remote communities, easing prices for residents who live far from supply centres.

2022-23: $0.7M2023-24: $22.2M2024-25: $17.5M2025-26: $18.4M2026-27: $19.3M

General Government operating, $77.9M over 5 years ($90.7M over 6 years)

Torres Strait Islands Marine Infrastructure Program$3.5MNewCapitalAnnounced

New marine infrastructure improves transport and connectivity for Torres Strait Island communities.

General Government, combining operating ($10.5M over 5 years) and capital ($21.5M over 4 years; $27.5M over 5 years). The $3.5M in 2023-24 combines operating ($2.5M) and capital ($1M).

Great Barrier Reef International Marine College Expansion$8MNewCapitalAnnounced

Expanding the marine college in Cairns gives students more training facilities for maritime careers in Far North Queensland.

2023-24: $8M2024-25: $8M

Capital, $16M over 2 years

Statewide measures

Most budget measures are allocated statewide rather than to individual regions. The full budget overview lists all 125 tracked initiatives, many of which deliver services in Far North Queensland. The Regional Delivery Plan (linked below) details specific capital works and programs for this region.

Source document

Regional Delivery Plan — Far North Queensland (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-06-21. Factual information from published budget documents.