THE first major card has been played in the election battle for Leichhardt, with a proposal for a 20,000-seat football stadium, a host of "sports tourism" projects and a performing arts centre.

LNP candidate Warren Entsch unveiled his vision exclusively to The Cairns Post yesterday, saying the $240 million flagged for the Cairns Cultural Precinct should instead be spread across multiple infrastructure projects, providing a broader boost to the regional economy.

Battleground Far North: your complete guide to the 2010 Federal Election, and how it affects you | Editorial: Make Them Work For Your Vote | Hot election issues in Far North Queensland | Gillard's pledge to boost the regions | Federal election called for August 21 | Rolling coverage on Twitter 

But the vision comes without any commitments of cash to fund it, in a bold move that could set the scene for a major cash pledge from the Coalition, or leave Mr Entsch red-faced if one is not forthcoming.

The LNP has so far been largely silent, at least publicly, on the cultural precinct plan.

Mr Entsch said a 20,000 seat rectangular football field, a 5000-seat hockey facility, a netball stadium, a maritime museum, an aquarium and the refurbishment of Tobruk Memorial Pool would represent wiser spending.

The proposal also includes an
$80 million, 1500-seat performing arts centre, on the Hartley St site now occupied by the Ports North office building, as an alternative to that planned for waterfront land at Trinity Inlet.

Mr Entsch said he was "hoping" his party would put forward a funding promise during the campaign, and he had won support from Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey and deputy leader Julie Bishop.

But Opposition Leader Tony Abbott yesterday said the Coalition would tighten spending even further than previously announced.

That would include saving $400 million initially planned for infrastructure in Queensland and Western
Australia.

Mr Entsch said he had consulted widely and wanted to develop a sports tourism industry in Cairns, which could also include tropical sports medicine facilities at JCU.

He would also seek to ensure building contracts were awarded to local companies – possibly through a Federal Government declaration of the area being under "economic stress’.

"This is my performing arts precinct," Mr Entsch said.

"To me it’s an infinitely better idea than a single piece of infrastructure that may or may not work.

"If you look at a list of what this city needs, you will see how many boxes it ticks."

It might not, however, tick the boxes required for the State Government’s $80 million contribution promised for the precinct. The state has also gifted the waterfront land for the precinct, while the Federal ALP has promised $40 million.

Leichhardt Labor MP Jim Turnour insisted Mr Entsch "show us the money". "These are great pie in the sky ideas but what Cairns needs is real dollars and real commitments," he said.

Share this article