Council will apply for almost $5 million in Federal Government funding for lighting and audio-visual upgrades to Barlow Bark.
The upgrades will meet tv broadcast requirements making the venue more suitable for state, national and international sporting events.
Hosting more high-quality sporting matches will have significant financial benefits for the city by attracting more visitors and boosting the city's profile.
If successful in gaining funding through the Federal Government's Building Better Regions Fund Round 6 (BBRF6), the upgrades are expected to be completed next year.
Council will also apply for $905,000 in BBRF6 funding to expand the Cairns Festival and Eco Fiesta programs.
Under Council's proposal, two new events will be added to the Cairns Festival line-up: Florence Street Festival showcasing Queensland-only artists, food and beverages; and Music on the Esplanade – six high-profile shows with an emphasis on First Nations artists.
Council is also proposing to grow Eco Fiesta in 2023 and 2024 by adding a conference and expanding the music program.
