General News
30 September, 2026
All go for revamp
TWO major project packages worth an estimated $21 million to anchor the transformation of the Innisfail town centre over the next five years have been prioritised by Cassowary Coast Regional Council.
At its September ordinary meeting last week, elected members unanimously voted to prioritise the overhaul of the ANZAC Memorial Park and ‘northern gateway’ – alongside major works spanning ‘waterfront south’ and Fitzgerald Esplanade.
The decision sets the sequence for progressing the projects through detailed design, community engagement and government funding advocacy under council’s corporate plan 2025–2030.
The proposed works stem from the 2023 Innisfail CBD Revitalisation Master Plan – a comprehensive framework aimed at breathing new life into the region’s economic and social heart.
In his report to council, chief executive officer Andrew Graffen emphasised that the scope of the master plan extends far beyond cosmetic fixes, describing it as a strategic investment to reposition the town.
"Its purpose is broader than a physical streetscape upgrade,” Mr Graffen noted in the report.
He said it would enhance the town's identity, activate public spaces and make Innisfail an enticing destination for locals, visitors and investors.
“It seeks to strengthen Innisfail’s identity, activate public spaces, improve the experience for locals and visitors, support existing businesses, create conditions that encourage private investment and increase the amount of time people spend in the CBD and waterfront precinct,” he said.
Under the endorsed plan, the first priority package focuses on the ANZAC Memorial Park and ‘northern gateway’, carrying an indicative master plan cost of $9m. Positioned at a primary arrival point into Innisfail, the project aims to create a stronger first impression for travellers passing between the Bruce Highway and the riverfront.
Planned enhancements include upgraded park entries, reflective spaces, event areas, interpretative elements celebrating local service history and better pedestrian links into the commercial core.
The second priority package pairs ‘waterfront south part A’ ($9.25m) with ‘Fitzgerald Esplanade part A’ ($2.75m) for an estimated combined total of $12m.
Designed to transform Fitzgerald Esplanade into a “vibrant waterfront destination”, the plan envisions outdoor dining, active recreation infrastructure, traffic-calming measures and improved marine and river access.
Council officers noted that, while the broader master plan contains 10 major development opportunities, attempting to execute the entire vision at once would risk overstretching local resources.
By focusing design efforts on two key zones, council aims to build “investment-ready” proposals capable of securing crucial state and federal grant funding.
Officers clarified that the master plan’s $21m combined price-tag reflects preliminary, concept-level estimates from 2023 that will be refined as engineering investigations, site approvals and market testing progress.
Crucially, council stressed that local ratepayer funds will not bear the burden alone. Delivery will rely on state and federal and state government funding.
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