Media Release: The nation’s local roads, transport and infrastructure leaders converge on Cairns

Far North Queensland will be at the centre of the national conversation on roads, transport and infrastructure this week, when council leaders and infrastructure experts from across Australia gather in Cairns.

The Australian Local Government Association’s 2026 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress will be held at the Cairns Convention Centre on 25 and 26 August.

Queensland Senator Susan McDonald, Federal Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith MP and Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden will join ALGA President Mayor Matt Burnett to address delegates during the Congress opening session.

Mayor Burnett said it was fitting to bring the national event to Far North Queensland, where safe, resilient and well-maintained transport infrastructure was critical to communities and the regional economy.

“Councils manage an enormous road and infrastructure network that Australians rely on every day, and nowhere is that more apparent than across regional and remote Australia,” Mayor Burnett said.

“We are delighted to bring council leaders, engineers, planners, government and industry representatives from around the country to Cairns to discuss how we can build safer, stronger and more productive communities.

“Far North Queensland faces many of the road and infrastructure challenges we need to address nationally, from managing vast road networks and extreme weather to supporting growing communities and strengthening supply chains.”

The two-day Congress will examine issues including road safety, heavy vehicle management, infrastructure funding, workforce capacity, fuel security, enabling infrastructure and new approaches to managing local road networks.

The Congress will receive an update on the National Automated Access System, essential for Australia’s productivity and being rolled out in Queensland. Road managers will be key in delivery of a single seamless national system to streamline decision making on heavy vehicle access across the nation.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to take part in a technical tour of the Gordonvale Water Security Project.

The National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress is ALGA’s premier national gathering for local government specialists, experts and leaders responsible for managing critical community infrastructure.

EVENT: 2026 National Local Roads, Transport and Infrastructure Congress
WHEN: Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 August 2026
WHERE: Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns

MORE INFORMATION:

www.roadscongress.com.au
About Queensland’s adoption of the National Automated Access System (NAAS)