Crisis tackled at Tropical North Queensland Housing Summit in Cairns

Up to 20 people are cramming into four-bedroom homes in parts of Far North Queensland, as leaders met for a housing summit in Cairns.

Federal, State and local government representatives will join key stakeholders from the not-for-profit and private sector to seek accommodation solutions at the Tropical North Queensland Housing Summit held at The Cairns Institute. Photo: Dylan Nicholson

The executive officer of the Torres Cape Indigenous Councils Alliance has described seeing 15-20 people crammed into four-bedroom homes as leaders met in Cairns for a housing summit.

Speaking at the Tropical North Queensland Housing Summit held at the Cairns Institute, Mick Miller — who represents 16 of the 17 indigenous councils plus Weipa and Cook Shire — said there needs to be more accountability from the different levels of government.

“Our biggest issue is the blockage within legislation, government, policy and funding,” he said.

“The funding comes from the feds and it will cascade down through tiers and by the time it hits the ground its not there.”

Mr Miller said major issues lie in the affordability of development and the cultural suitability of housing solutions being put in place.

“When you look at cost escalations in our communities, to deliver a four-bedroom house on the Torres islands is $1.2m, where you can deliver that for $400,000 in Cairns,” he said.

“We don’t want the westernised houses that sit down here, they need to meet cultural and environment needs.”

Overcrowding is also a massive issue in Cape and Torres Strait communities.

FNQROC CEO Anthony Archie, RDA Tropical North Chair Hurriyet Babacan, and TCICA CEO Michael Miller. Photo: Dylan Nicholson

“When you look at overcrowding in Cairns compared to some of my communities we are seeing 15-20 people in a four-bedroom house as a standard and I can say it is getting worse.”

Three of the major issues for the audience were; adressing how to unlock AirBnB stock for long term rentals, investigating collaborative housing models, and elevating modular housing solutions.

RDA Tropical North chair Hurriyet Babacan said housing was one of the major economic and social challenges facing the Far North and that a whole of region approach was needed.

“We have been having these conversations with each other but this is the first time in my 10 years here I have seen we have brought it all together to take a wholistic view,” she said.

Ms Babacan said the region was growing at just under two per cent, population-wise, and there was a chronic problem in that housing demand and supply do not match.

“We have workers coming to the region and economic growth but we don’t have the houses,” she said.

“We also have significant housing stress with high rents, people are struggling.”

Ms Babacan said the issue was complicated with social, economic, cultural aspects and environmental aspects, but if nothing is done there will be major consequences for many in communities.

“We will see the vulnerable become more disadvantaged,” she said.

“We have more low income people than other regions and people are slipping with the middle class disappearing with greater income going towards housing.

“It will also impact the economy with difficulty attracting workers and skills to the region.

“It will affect our social cohesion creating a society of haves and have-nots.”

Originally published as Crisis tackled at Tropical North Queensland Housing Summit in Cairns