Towards 2050: Shaping Cairns

Cairns is a popular place to live and work, and our population will grow even more in the coming decades.

Council’s Towards 2050 Shaping Cairns project is planning for this growth now, to make sure everyone can live here and enjoy what we love about Cairns today.

  • About Towards 2050 Project

    The Towards 2050: Shaping Cairns Growth Strategy will establish a clear and coordinated long term plan for the growth and development of the Cairns local government area. The project will run from September 2022 to the mid-2025.


    See how and why we're planning for Cairns in 2050 
  • Growth Strategy Framework

    This Growth Strategy Framework document explains how we are developing the Growth Strategy, and introduces a suite of technical studies and guiding principles that will underpin the next phase of the project.

    Find out more about the Growth Strategy Framework 
  • What we've heard

    We're talking to the community at each step in the project to explore the challenges and opportunities of growth, and to capture your views and priorities. To date, we've held in-person and online engagement activities including pop-up stalls at local events, online surveys, meetings with industry stakeholders, a Youth Summit and a Community Summit.

    See how we've engaged and what we've heard so far 
  • Towards 2050 Community Panel

    We have formed the Towards 2050 Community Panel with 350 independently-selected community members representing people from all walks of life, demographics, backgrounds, and interests. Panel members will provide feedback on key topics, issues, and priorities relating to the project.

    Read about the Panel. Access to Members Only page. 

Register for Towards 2050 project updates

You can receive project updates and notification of community engagement activities.

Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:

Name The Towards 2050 Team
Phone 1300 69 22 47
Email towards2050@cairns.qld.gov.au
Website haveyoursay.cairns.qld.gov.au/towards2050