The Cairns City Urban Precincts Regeneration Project is currently underway. Led by Cairns Regional Council, the project is exploring what we can do to increase housing and liveability within the CBD and neighbouring precincts.

We're examining what makes a great tropical neighbourhood in Cairns - including how to foster connected communities that support accessibility and a sense of belonging and pride for all residents.

The school-based Cairns Iconic Bus Stop Design Competition will contribute to this project by fostering discussions that consider public transport and placemaking and highlight what young people value most about Cairns.

Competition purpose

A key focus of the Cairns City Urban Precincts project is using placemaking and urban design to improve connectivity between Cairns CBD and surrounding precincts. In addition, the 2024 Our Cairns Youth Survey identified public transport as a key mode of travel and high priority area for many young people in Cairns.

This competition asks students to present their ideas on how to raise the profile of Cairns and public transport by considering what Cairns represents to them and the community. You will ultimately produce an innovative bus stop design to showcase your ideas.

Register your interest or find out more

We invite expressions of interest from anyone interested in participating in this exciting competition. Register for the Cairns Iconic Bus Stop design competition by 28 February 2025.

Key dates

  • Expressions of interest due Friday 28 February 2025.
  • Submissions due Friday 22 April 2025.
  • Designs will be displayed at the City Precincts Project Exhibition in June 2025. Details to be confirmed.

Design brief

The task requires students to choose one traveller provided by the list of ‘personas’ within the task description and ‘Design Criteria.’ Students are encouraged to brainstorm who they are designing for and why. Students will identify what Cairns represents to them and translate this into a bus stop design. The design intent is to be bold and innovative, reflecting the unique spirit of our city. A comprehensive design package will be provided for the students and teacher use.

The marking criteria outlines the standards used to assess the design, quality, and relevance of the Innovative Bus Stop Design Competition. Students will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Placemaking
  • Functionality
  • Sustainability
  • Identity
  • Accessibility and inclusion