Cairns fitness surge: New participation data shows city moving more, but gaps remain

More than 62 per cent of Cairns adults now say they exercise at least three times a week, according to the Cairns Regional Council's just-released Active City Report 2025-26, a jump of nearly nine points since the last survey in 2022. The data, compiled from 1,400 telephone interviews conducted in March, offers the clearest picture yet of how the city's fitness culture is shifting.

The figures land as council prepares to release its 10-year Sport and Recreation Plan, expected to be tabled at the next ordinary meeting on July 29. With the city's population pushing past 170,000 and new estate developments in Edmonton and Mount Sheridan drawing younger families, demand for courts, fields and pools is outpacing supply in several corridors.

Hotspots and holdouts

The survey singled out northern beach suburbs, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach and Clifton Beach, as having the highest participation rates, with 71 per cent of respondents meeting the national physical-activity guidelines. By contrast, the inner-city suburbs of Manunda and Manoora reported rates below 50 per cent. Both areas lack a dedicated aquatic centre; residents rely on Tobruk Memorial Pool or the newer Edmonton Leisure Centre, both a 15-minute drive away.

Organised sport remains the backbone of participation. The Cairns Netball Association recorded its highest ever registration this winter, with 2,750 players across 220 teams at its complex on Gatton Street. Cairns Basketball reported that its junior competition has grown 18 per cent year-on-year, forcing the association to run games at two venues, the Early Settler Indoor Sports Centre at Freshwater and the newly refurbished Cazalys Stadium indoor courts in Barlow Park.

Where the gaps are

Council's report identifies a shortfall of at least four multi-purpose courts in the southern growth corridor. The Edmonton Leisure Centre, opened in 2023, already hits capacity during peak after-school hours. A feasibility study for a second southern sports hub, proposed for land near Hambledon State School on Robert Road, is expected to go to tender in September.

Funding pressures complicate any build. The council's capital works budget for 2025-26 allocates just $4.2 million for new sport infrastructure, down from $6.8 million the previous financial year. Cairns mayor Terry Pierson told The Daily Cairns this week that the council would seek state government co-funding for the Robert Road project under the Active Queensland Infrastructure Program, though applications for the current round close on August 14.

The data also highlights a stubborn gender gap. Among women aged 25-44, participation drops to 41 per cent, nearly 20 points below men in the same age bracket. The report attributes this to a lack of creche-equipped facilities and limited evening programs. Cairns Aquatics, which manages the Tobruk and Edmonton pools, has trialled a mothers-only lane session on Tuesday and Thursday mornings since February; the trial has expanded from 12 to 34 regular swimmers.

For those looking to get moving, council's website lists free outdoor gym equipment at 14 parks, including the newly installed circuit station at Fogarty Park on the Esplanade. The park's multi-use court, resurfaced in April, is bookable online for basketball and futsal sessions. The Active City Report will be published in full on the council's website from Wednesday.