Bright Future For Everyone Who Calls Cairns Home
A long-term housing solution for Cairns residents will retain our enviable lifestyle and provide more affordable places for people to call home. The plans made now will need to allow for an extra 50,000 residents in the next 20 years.
Cairns Regional Council is urging State and Federal governments to support what we all want – secure housing options for today’s population and generations to follow.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said household budgets were under strain and more affordable housing options were needed at scale in the region.
“Council wants the same thing as our community, secure and affordable homes today and in the future,” she said.
“The rising cost of housing, along with increasing rents and mortgage repayments, remain some of the biggest financial pressures for residents. Many of the most vulnerable in our community are finding it’s out of reach to get a roof over their head.
“Council is taking our role in addressing this wicked problem with a range of measures including development incentives and fast tracked approval processes. The recently endorsed Local Housing Action Plan provides responses to immediate, emerging and longer-term housing challenges in the Cairns region.”
Independent cost analysis commissioned by Council has identified approximately $450 million in new and upgraded infrastructure is required to facilitate the first stage of the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor. If the Corridor is declared a Priority Development Area it could accelerate planning, design and approvals and get shovels in the ground sooner.
Division 2 Councillor Matthew Tickner said planning was critical to deliver liveable communities for people to call home.
“The Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor is the last remaining green field development site of scale in our region. It has the potential to accommodate more than 18,500 homes and over 42,500 people,” he said.
“We are progressing with planning the infrastructure needed for future sewer, water, roads and drainage that will enable growth into the Mount Peter Corridor.
“Conceptual estimates have outlined potential costs of around $450 million to deliver the infrastructure required to initially service around 3,800 lots and create additional capacity for thousands more.
“Council can’t deliver housing alone, it requires collaboration between the development industry, governments and the community. We’ve certainly been very active in having these discussions.”
Council is looking to partner with the State and Federal governements to deliver affordable housing, with a request of $150 million from each through grant schemes and other funding options. A commitment to funding would push forward the planning and delivery of new homes.
Division 1 Councillor Brett Moller said there had been many encouraging signs that development was happening now.
“In our region we are working to enable responsible and affordable developments now. Developers and home owners are benefitting from faster and simpler approvals,” he said.
“For instance, the ExpressDA program is issuing approvals that are low risk, in as little as two days. Additionally, more than $23 million in development fees have been waived since 2021 to boost supply in well located areas.
“It’s not just about delivering more houses. It’s about delivering what the community needs, including a mix of homes to suit workers, families, older people, culturally diverse and vulnerable people.
“We want liveable communities with open spaces, schools, health services and shops. When we get it right all of Cairns will benefit from affordable choices to work live play and connect.”
Councils’ new Development & Planning Blueprint outlines further options to deliver faster better development in the region, in collaboration with industry and the community. They will host a series of workshops with landowners and developers in April to help inform current priorities and prepare for future growth.
https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/news-notices/media-releases/media-releases/bright-future-housing-options