Major development project to tackle the Whitsundays housing crisis is under review

As a construction company submits an ambitious plan to tackle the housing crisis in the Whitsundays, the Department of Education has ruled out the need for a new school.

As a construction company submits an ambitious plan to tackle the housing crisis and cater for an increase in the Whitsundays population, the Department of Education says such development will not need to include a new school.

Alder Developments’ Cannon Valley Master Planned Community project promises to build 900 dwellings for the Whitsunday community over a 10 year period bringing a diversity of housing, retail, commercial, and educational buildings on a 102-hectare parcel of land at Cannon Valley.

The project specifies they are applying for permits to build a new school in that parcel of land.

The demand for a new school is already at the forefront of the community concerns, with Whitsunday Regional Council councillor Jan Clifford saying she has asked for a new public school for decades.

The government had recently announced it would not consider a request by the Whitsunday Regional Council to build a new school for the Cannonvale area after looking at recent projections.

We have asked whether the Department of Education would change their decision if a project of this magnitude was approved.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said there is sufficient capacity in the “current network of schools in the area” to accommodate for growth.

They also stated that the most recent growth forecasts for the Whitsundays school age population was now decreasing compared to 2018 projections.

It stated that the primary school-age population was now forecasted to grow to 1,530 children by 2041, compared to 1,700 in the 2018 forecast.

The secondary school-aged population is expected to be 1343 by 20141, instead of the 1,500 projected in 2018.

An Alder Developments spokeswoman said they have received the “same feedback” from the community for the needs of a new school.

“To be clear we have no school in mind, no operator and no definite demand, but it is sensible to plan for it to be allowed now, in case the demand arises, we can deliver a school site quite quickly,” she said.

900 dwellings delivered in 10 years

The parcel of land proposed for development is located at 1405 Shute Harbour Road, which is 12 minutes from Airlie Beach, 15 minutes to Proserpine and 55

minutes to Bowen.

Alder Developments General Manager Mr Tupicoff says the project would include apartments, townhouses and residential land offerings.

“More than 900 dwellings will be delivered over the life of the project, with a mix of one and two bedroom apartments right through to large detached two storey homes on generous blocks of land,” Mr Tupicoff said.

An application for an ambitious development project was sent to the Whitsunday Regional Council that should provide 800 dwellings to the Whitsundays over a 10-year period. Picture: Alder Developments

Apart from providing housing, the company has also submitted approval for commercial businesses or approvals for a new school or new medical premises.

“The delivery of which will be subject to demand,” Mr Tupicoff added.

The company says 40 per cent of the space would be dedicated to green spaces for parks, wetlands or lakes, environmental space and green pathway networks.

Land will first need to be rezoned

An Alder Development spokeswoman said the first stage of the project will focus on delivering 30-50 residential dwellings first to then move on to use land for commercial or educational prospects at a later stage.

She said the company would only look at the green spaces about halfway through the timeline.

It is too early to get proper renders of the project as of yet, since the first application sent to the Whitsunday Regional Council is the first of a long list, she said.

“It is effectively to rezone the land from Emerging Communities Zone to an Urban Zone, to allow for the development of a master planned community,” the spokeswoman said adding that if it gets approved there will be more approvals to secure later on.

An application for an ambitious development project was sent to the Whitsunday Regional Council that should provide 800 dwellings to the Whitsundays over a 10-year period. Picture: Alder Developments

Mr Tupicoff said the overall masterplan consists of more than 500 residential lots ranging from 250 sqm up to 1,000 sqm, with the majority between 450 sqm to 700 sqm.

“[It’s] ideal for young couples, retirees and growing families,” he said.

“The development will offer affordable land options to the market in an area which the Whitsundays Regional Council has designated in their 2021 Structure Plan as a major growth area for the Whitsundays,” he said.

“This is having real impacts on workforce attraction in a region driven by its tourism and mining industries, so affordable rental accommodation is an important element,” Mr Tupicoff said.

The application will be considered by the Whitsunday Regional Council at a next ordinary meeting.