Water Facts

Population

1996 - Census population of 111,469.

2001 - Census population of 122,058 excluding the 11,142 overseas visitors in Cairns on Census night.

1996 - 2001 - annual growth rate of approximately 1.7%.

2004 - estimated resident population of 125,132.

2005 - 2006 - one of Queensland's largest population increases (4,100 people) recorded outside South-East Queensland.

2006 - estimated resident population of 132,765 (2006 Census data to be released mid-2007).

2001 - 2006 - estimated annual growth rate of approximately 2.0% (2006 Census data to be released mid-2007).

2007 - total population including domestic and international visitors at any given time is estimated to be 145,000.

2021 - projected population of approximately 187,565 based on 2.0% annual average growth rate.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Cairns City Council.

Climate

1946 - lowest minimum temperature (between 1942 and 2007) of 6.2 degrees recorded 23 June.

1967 - highest minimum temperature (between 1942 and 2007) of 28.9 degrees recorded 29 January.

1970 - lowest maximum temperature between (1942 and 2007) of 18.7 degrees recorded 8 August.

1995 - highest maximum temperature (between 1942 and 2007) of 40.5 degrees recorded 20 December.

2007 - temperature generally ranges from mid-20s in winter to mid-30s in summer.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and Cairns City Council.

Rainfall

1967 - lowest monthly rainfall (between 1942 and 2007) of 86.1mm recorded in January.

1981 - highest monthly rainfall (between 1942 and 2007) of 1417.4mm of rain recorded in January.

2001 - annual rainfall of 1667.8mm.

2002 - annual rainfall of 721.0mm.

2003 - annual rainfall of 1279.2mm.

2004 - annual rainfall of 2777.6mm.

2007 - average annual rainfall of approximately 1956.8mm (since 1942).

2007 - average daily evaporation of 6.2mm (since 1942).

Source: Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

Cairns Regional Council Environments

North

Wet Tropics rainforest and World Heritage National Parks as far as Simpson Point at Ellis Beach.

East

The Great Barrier Reef, Coral Cays and tropical islands such as Green, Fitzroy and Frankland Islands.

South

Rugged ranges and numberous waterfalls and lakes as far as Bramston Beach.

West

Mountainous rainforest encompassing the escarpments of the McAllister Range State Forest, Lamb Range State Forest and Frances Range.

Source: Cairns Regional Council.