Cairns beach developments: Towers, duplexes, houses planned across controversial projects

A spectacular beachside bungalow park has hit the market with massive redevelopment approvals that could change the face of the coastline – but it is not the only one.

A SPECTACULAR beachside bungalow park has hit the market with massive redevelopment approvals that could change the face of the coastline – but it is not the only one.

The Ellis Beach Oceanfront Bungalows Holiday Park and accompanying Ellis Beach Bar and Grill are searching for a new owner with expressions of interest closing on September 9.

The popular tourist spot also pulls in its fair share of locals, but it could be completely transformed if its redevelopment approvals are put into action.

It consists of bungalows, apartments, caravan and campsites but still has the green light for a new 221-key resort development including a hotel, motel and apartments.

A quiet and sleepy bungalow resort – with a ripper bar and restaurant attached – is now on the market. Part of the sale includes existing approvals for a massive redevelopment that includes 221-room resort with a hotel, motel and swanky apartments. Picture: Brendan Radke

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Big changes will come to Ellis Beach if a buyer comes along with the financial backing to realise the full development potential.

The project is in good company with several other transformative – and controversial – beach suburb developments, from duplex construction to whopping new towers.

Beach duplexes

It might not seem like such a big deal – just a piddling duplex development on the waterfront. However, local residents are livid over an approval they fear will open the floodgates for more intensive subdivisions in their quiet beachside village. There has also been confusion about why the project was approved despite not complying with “acceptable outcomes” in the planning scheme. Picture: Supplied

It might not sound like much but the a plan to demolish a home at 225 O’Shea Esplanade in Machans Beach to make way for duplexes has struck a nerve.

Cairns Regional Council received 38 submissions against the project despite the matter not being open to public comment.

They feared it would open the floodgates for more small-lot subdivisions – but the project was approved regardless.

Trinity towers

The slippery slope of seaside development was on show when this tower project got the all-clear in August last year. It was a special case with a stepped-back design and multiple building types, but residents were still not happy. The old “no higher than the coconut palms” rule of thumb is clearly no longer a hard and fast development rule on the northern beaches. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

Residents fear a dangerous precedent may have been set after plans to build two seven-storey towers in Trinity Beach were approved last year.

The $24m project at the corner of Moore and Mararna streets will feature four types of accommodation including a line of two-storey duplex townhouses, a single stand-alone house and with two seven-storey apartment towers further down the hill.

Each tower will have a mixture of units and top-end penthouse accommodation.

Vertical retirement

Its predecessor was a seven or eight-storey apartment complex that got knocked on the head by Cairns councillors. However, this new five-storey retirement village plan for the Clifton Beach esplanade is still drawing a lot of flak from locals who want all development to be limited to four storeys. Picture: Supplied.

Opposition is building against two five-storey retirement towers planned for 89-91 Arlington Esplanade in Clifton Beach.

St John’s Community Care has applied to build the centre on two parcels of beachfront land with a maximum height of 17.265m and 32 two-bedroom units.

The property has been the site for multiple development applications over the years, most recently with an unsuccessful bid to build 109 units over eight or nine storeys and a cafe.

A lot of residents believe development should be limited to four storeys – but recent council decisions suggest things will be getting taller in the coming years.

This five-storey proposal may prove to a less intensive proposal than what comes down the track.

Top of the hill

The future of one of Australia’s most picturesque locations remains up in the air with no announcement of a new buyer after a long expressions-of-interest process earlier this year. The campaign for the State Government to buy it fell flat, and Cairns Regional Council has made clear it has no intention of shelling out to preserve the property as environmental land. History shows any development on the site will be controversial – even though an 18-lot estate is approved. Picture: Marc McCormack

Rob Prettejohn has owned Taylor Point – the exclusive site separating Trinity Beach and Kewarra Beach – for more than 20 years.

Development proposals have always been met with intense opposition, and it remains to be seen what will finally happen with the prestigious property.

The 18.81ha parcel is technically approved for an 18-lot development but Mr Prettejohn’s construction appetite appears to have waned.

He put Taylor Point on the market late last year with formal offers closing in March.

Environmentalists had been campaigning for the State Government to buy the land and protect it as an environmental reserve.

It never did, with the Environment and Science Department instead suggesting the council should take it over – a suggestion the council said was “not under discussion”.

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Originally published as Cairns beach developments: Towers, duplexes, houses planned across controversial projects