‘We only get one chance to do development right’: Mayor Amy Eden

We only get one chance to do development right. Some parts of Cairns did it the right way. Other parts of Cairns … not so much, writes Mayor Amy Eden

Cairns mayor Amy Eden chairs a Cairns Regional Council ordinary meeting. Picture: Brendan Radke

We only get one chance to do development right.

Some parts of Cairns did it the right way.

A variety of housing stock. Vibrant public spaces, parks and playgrounds. A bustling mix of commercial activity. Connected. Accessible. Tropical.

Other parts of Cairns … not so much. Some pockets of our city continue to deal with the consequences of poor planning.

We get one shot at creating communities with the kind of qualities that create great places to build a home and a life.

You can’t rush that process. No short cuts. No half measures.

As we work to unlock the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor, this once in a generation greenfield project must consider all of those factors that make communities liveable and vibrant.

Mount Peter requires the right infrastructure at the right time. The risks and costs of rushing it are too great for ratepayers and for the future of our city.

Cairns is growing. But growth without proper planning and the right infrastructure puts our lifestyle at risk. It will place even more pressure on residents who are dealing with the cost of living crisis, housing affordability and the rental squeeze.

To ensure growth becomes an opportunity rather than a burden, Council is working proactively with all stakeholders to deliver more housing right now at the same time that we plan for Mt Peter.

Home construction and house building under development at Mt Peter Estate in the Cairns southern growth corridor. Picture: Brendan Radke

We’ve got development incentives in place, fast tracked assessments and a range of other measures aimed at getting more people into new homes sooner.

At the same time, we’re also working on Stage 1 of the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor, which has the potential to unlock around 3,800 new homes. Over time, this area could support up to 18,500 homes.

But to make that happen, we need serious investment.

Independent analysis shows we need around $450 million in new and upgraded infrastructure, including water, sewerage, stormwater drainage, roads, and community infrastructure.

Like many councils across the nation, Cairns faces a major funding gap between the cost of this infrastructure and what we can recover from developer contributions.

Bridging this gap isn’t just about housing – it’s about the cost of living.

Without State and Federal support, Council would need to take on significant additional debt to fund this gap. That debt would need to be repaid through increased rates and charges – we would all feel the consequences.

Kenfrost lot plant for the reconfiguring one lot into 461 lots at Mount Peter. Picture: Supplied

That’s why we’re calling on the State and Federal Governments to each invest $150 million in the Mt Peter project as part of our Securing Cairns Housing Foundations Plan.

It’s an investment in affordability, opportunity, and the future liveability of our region.

We welcome the Queensland Government’s $2 billion Residential Acceleration Fund and will be applying for funding through that program.

We’re also pleased to see both sides of politics at a Federal level making housing a high priority in this election campaign. Local candidates have confirmed their support for the Mt Peter project. Federal funding support will be critical.

A Priority Development Area (PDA) declaration over the Mount Peter Southern Growth Corridor is also essential. A PDA would significantly accelerate planning, design, and approvals by working collaboratively with the State – cutting years off the timeline and getting shovels in the ground faster.

The Mount Peter Master Plan finalised in 2012 provides strong building blocks but our region has changed since that planning work was done, and so have our needs. We must evolve this plan to reflect the community’s needs for today and for the future.

We all want the same thing – a great place to call home. Let’s build the foundations together.

Originally published as ‘We only get one chance to do development right’: Mayor Amy Eden