Cairns council’s new development director Ed Johnson draws ‘line in sand’ on subdivisions

A new sheriff has laid down the law and rejected a series of suburban subdivisions just weeks after taking the Cairns Regional Council planning reins.

A NEW sheriff has laid down the law and rejected a series of unsuitable suburban subdivisions just weeks after taking the Cairns Regional Council planning reins.

Ed Johnson is the council’s new planning director, replacing his interim predecessor Martin Garred.

Councillors have already praised the clear guidelines he has set down to developers since starting last month.

Deputy Mayor Terry James said Mr Johnson was continuing the work started by Mr Garred in setting a strategy to better define what development was wanted, and where.

Cairns Regional Council's new planning director Ed Johnson. Picture: Supplied

“It is about setting a vision on how we want our city to look like,” Cr James said.

“For example, just because we have approved certain types of developments in the past, that does not mean they will be approved in the future.”

That played out at the most recent council meeting, with two backyard subdivisions getting knocked back.

Division 3 councillor Cathy Zeiger said a haphazard planning approach had been allowed to run for far too long.

“The idea is to draw a line in the sand, to make it clear for the developers, for the consultants that are advising their clients,” she said.

Former Nova City sales director Zak Thaker and his wife Lenora bought 12 Alberta Dr in Woree for $340,000 in June 2021. Their application to subdivide the yard has been rejected. Picture: Supplied

“I’d like to see the line in the sand be quite a thick line so we’ve got some absolute outcomes.”

Division 9 councillor Brett Olds hoped the management shift would stop a slippery planning slope that had irked him for years.

“It did seem like a bit of a free-fall a couple of years ago where everything was kind of getting approved,” he said.

“It is all about setting those guidelines and expectations.”

Mr Johnson said he was focused on developing the Cairns 2050 Growth Strategy to set the scene for a new planning scheme that identified appropriate and sustainable growth for the next 30 years.

“It begins as a discussion with the community about the needs for the future and how we begin to plan for that in the best way possible,” he said.

“It provides an opportunity to look at planning in an inclusive and integrated manner and consider land availability and uses, appropriate diversity of housing options, how people travel to and from work, and importantly, improving the liveability of neighbourhoods.”

Mr Johnson was previously employed with Urbis from 2015 to 2022 in several roles.

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Originally published as Cairns council’s new development director Ed Johnson draws ‘line in sand’ on subdivisions