‘Innovative density’: Cairns developer calls for incoming mayor to boldly reimagine the heart of the city
Higher density living in the CBD can help lead Cairns out of its housing crisis as the city stares down a post-Covid “perfect storm” in the property market, a leading developer says.
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Higher density living in the CBD can help lead Cairns out of its housing crisis as the city stares down a post-Covid “perfect storm” in the property market, a leading developer says.
Cairns’ mayoral candidates have resoundingly endorsed increasing the population in the heart of town as a way to combat low vacancy rates, ease homelessness and avoid building in flood-prone areas.
But MiHaven director and co-founder Sarah Mort said more residents residing in the city centre could create new accommodation faster than building in Cairns’ southern corridor.
“The inner city trunk infrastructure is already established,” Ms Mort said.
“It’s in the growth corridor to the south where more work needs to be done.
“You can’t create land. We only have what we’ve got and when you centralise your services like health and retail you want to try and create an urban density around that.”
Ms Mort urged whoever wins the next council election to think boldly about what affordable developments in the CBD could look like.
“For the future supply of housing, we also have to think of innovative density and design solutions in terms of what we think is acceptable,” she said.
“We’ve seen very little apartment development since the Global Financial Crisis.
“The apartment market is picking up but the cost of materials, land prices and interest rates still make it hard.
“We’re not Sydney but the cost of building is the same and the market can’t afford it.”
A series of events had placed new pressures on Cairns’ housing market which had led to the current crisis, Ms Mort said.
“First, we overly stimulated the first home owner market and demand exploded,” she said.
“We were seeing record sales of land and then Covid happened and the whole supply chain of building materials increased by 30-40 percent.
“Then we had a huge influx of people moving to Queensland as you’ve got interest rates going from two percent to six or seven percent.
“Your median house price is now at $550,000. A lot of builders have gone into liquidation because they’ve been caught out with price rises.
“AirBnB has also taken out a big chunk of the rental market and there’s virtually no stock when you speak to real estate agents.”
Waiving infrastructure charges in the CBD and greater collaboration between the private and public sector were important first steps.
“You’ve got to have all levels of government funding and working together to cover the trunk works (on the southside),” Ms Mort said.
WHAT THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES SAY
Denis Walls
I will push for as many new developments as possible to include a minimum percentage of affordable and social housing, to boost supply and ensure integrated communities. State government subsidies are available to developers to offset their costs. I’ll advocate for a vacancy levy on homes unoccupied for a long time without good cause, to encourage homes to be made available. I’ll fight to free up suitable council land for new social and affordable housing, as Tablelands council is doing.
Amy Eden
The most effective thing a council can do to combat a housing shortage is to make it easier to build more houses. One of our first actions will be to launch an external review of council’s planning approval processes, so we can see where we can cut red tape for appropriate housing development. We’ll also work to improve the customer experience for builders and developers interacting with Council, initiating a Development Assessment Customer Journey project through the Queensland Small Business Commissioner.
Terry James
I will advocate with our state and Federal Governments to address this crisis by, as a minimum, giving Councils a seat at the table when looking at urgent initiatives to boost our Housing supply. I am the only candidate with the existing excellent relationships across these levels of government and I know what it takes to push things through. My experience in the building industry is second to none (nearly 50 years in total) and I have an intimate knowledge of the issues.
Paul Taylor
My council will focus on local employment, reducing the burden for housing demands for workers travelling from outside the local government area, including those in defence and other transient industries. Complementing this, a Taylor led council will return Cairns to a vibrant city, balancing suburban life and medium to high density housing in an enlivened CBD.
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Originally published as ‘Innovative density’: Cairns developer calls for incoming mayor to boldly reimagine the heart of the city
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