Development for a new school signals start of Mount Peter boom
A new state primary school will join the multimillion-dollar range of developments and infrastructure projects pouring into Cairns’ mega growth corridor which tens of thousands will call home in future years. Here’s what it means for the region.
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A new state primary school will join the multimillion dollar range of developments and infrastructure projects being poured into one of Far North’s up and coming suburbs.
The Mount Peter project is still in its “early planning stages” but Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said land has been identified for a future primary school within the Pinecrest housing estate — which will also include 500 lots.
“(The land) is one of the considerations that we have to work with the developers and council on, as well as other stakeholders, to ensure the future needs of education in that catchment is accounted for,” he said.
A Queensland Department of Education spokesperson said in 2020, it strategically acquired a 7.5 hectare parcel of land located on Cooper Rd to plan for long-term growth in Mount Peter.
However, no timeline has been set for the development of the school, according to the spokesperson.
“The Cairns Regional Council Planning Scheme (2016) identifies that the Mount Peter Local Plan Area will grow to a population of approximately 39,222 once fully developed,” the spokesperson said.
“To address emerging service needs, the department continues to monitor growth within the Mount Peter area to ensure that an appropriate level of schooling infrastructure is provided to service the community.
“At this time, the department has not yet sought funding for delivery of a new school.”
The state school will neighbour MacKillop Catholic College, which was open for enrolments in 2021.
Marketing the strictly owner occupied lots at the Pinecrest estate is Ben Johnston, principal licensee at the Cairns Property Shop.
“There’s a huge amount of sales, Pinecrest has gone incredibly well,” he said.
“It’s been well received … because of the highway upgrades, traffic, it’s only 15 minutes to the CBD.”
Alongside the Edmonton to Bruce Hwy upgrades and water security infrastructure, Mr Pitt said the region was getting ready for an influx of residents — particularly young families and first home buyers.
Population in the southern corridor, from White Rock to Edmonton, Mount Peter and Gordonvale, is expected to boom to 94,000 by 2050 with Mount Peter particularly predicted to grow to 33,100 — according to updated Cairns Regional Council estimates.
As the population grows, the industry hopes the affordability of the houses in the southern suburbs will help ease the region’s worsening housing crisis.
“It’s a very exciting time to not only live in the southern corridor but thinking about having that as your home in the future,” Mr Pitt said.
This comes after the state government committed $15m to Cairns Regional Council for water infrastructure to fast-track projects in Mount Peter by up to six years.
Council has also set aside $1.7m to purchase land between Edmonton and Gordonvale for a future transfer station, with the location yet to be determined according to Deputy Mayor Terry James.
Other community-boosting projects include the $5.5m for a new water storage reservoir at Mount Peter, $2.2m for the Edmonton Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades, $3.4m for the redevelopment of Kenrick Park and $1m in upgrades to Sugarworld Adventure Park.
“The Cairns population, which is over 166,000 according to the 2021 census, is predicted to grow by more than 100,000 people by 2050,” Cr James said.
“The southern corridor will play a critical role in accommodating the expected growth and council has already made significant infrastructure commitments to facilitate this expansion.”
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Originally published as Development for a new school signals start of Mount Peter boom
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