At a glance
- In the 2018-19 financial year, Cairns Regional Council spent $312 million in the Cairns region, representing 86 per cent of Council's total expenditure for the year.
- Council spending supported 3,241 local jobs through direct and flow-on spending.
CAIRNS Regional Council spending in 2018-19 supported more than 3,200 local jobs and injected $312 million into the city's economy.
A review of spending throughout the last financial year was tabled at today's Council meeting, highlighting Council's contribution to the city's economic growth.
Acting Mayor Cr Terry James said 86 per cent of Council's total $363 million expenditure for the year was invested locally through employment and locally sourced materials and services.
Of the remaining 14% there was no local option for 8%, non-local suppliers were used for 4% and the remaining 2% was attributable to government expenditure.
"This is a great result because $312 million has been directly invested in the Cairns region, creating jobs and improving infrastructure for residents," Cr James said.
It is estimated that every $1 million that Council spends supports 10 jobs, therefore 3,241 people were employed as a result of Council spending.
"Council is one of the region's largest and most diverse employers, creating career paths for local people, who in turn contribute to the local economy through their spending," Cr James said. "But Council also creates jobs through its purchase of local goods and services and hire of contractors for major projects."
A broader analysis of the Cairns economy identified improvements in employment and in tourism expenditure when compared to the previous year.
"Unemployment dropped to 4.7 per cent, which is well below the state average and a reduction from the 5.5 per cent it was a year ago," Cr James said.
"Tourism expenditure for Tropical North Queensland is also on the rise, with expenditure for the year ending March 2019 up by 6.5 per cent to $3.345 million."
