THE Federal Government has effectively given a green light to the Cairns Cultural Precinct, pledging $40 million over two years to build a performing arts centre.

Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese will use today’s visit to Cairns to announce the funds for the project, which could generate 1000 jobs in its construction phase.

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Cairns Regional Council and other community bodies have been lobbying the Federal Government for $80 million for the waterfront cultural precinct, to include the performing arts centre, a museum and a public plaza.

Today’s promise represents a commitment to the performing arts centre as the first stage of the precinct, and does not exclude further funding once detailed costings and designs have been approved.

Cairns Mayor Val Schier and Advance Cairns chairman Russell Beer said the commitment meant they could proceed with detailed community consultation on the precinct’s design and features.

The controversial "volcano" look will come under review.

Mr Albanese said the Federal Government was "determined to put Far North Queensland on the map as a cultural destination and add to the enjoyment visitors to the region already experience".

"Equally, this project would be a great example of our economic stimulus plan at work, creating economic activity in a region particularly hit hard by last year’s global recession."

His department will work with the council to finalise the business case and design before the funding is released.

The announcement follows the State Government’s contribution of a $42.5 million package, which includes the waterfront site and funds for the design plans.

Premier Anna Bligh has said her Government will commit further towards the precinct, expected to cost $241 million.

The council allocated $12.7 million in its 2010-11 budget, handed down last week, towards the project design.

The federal contribution is dependent on the re-election of the Labor Government, with the Opposition yet to state a position on the precinct.

Leichhardt MP Jim Turnour said Cairns desperately needed a performing arts centre
to replace its "outdated and
run down" civic theatre. Cr Schier last night said she was "absolutely delighted".

"We are doing our planning and budget work based on a staged process so this is wonderful," she said.

Mr Beer described the commitment as the "missing link in being able to go through to next phase of public consultation to design exactly what a cultural precinct should look like and what it would comprise".

"I think this is another example of what we can achieve when the region speaks with one voice,’’ he said.

Cairns councillors yesterday held a meeting on the project, with briefings from Advance Cairns and Ports North, after six councillors expressed reservations with the plan last week.

They are expected to give unanimous support to a motion at today’s committees meeting.

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