Future Cairns: CBD vision for 2050 will include high density housing for bigger population

A northern migration is set to turbocharge Cairns over the next 30 years but there are urgent things that need to happen right now in our CBD. Read how our city will be transformed.

Cairns City will be a vibrant northern powerhouse by 2050 with distinctive design and high density living options – if the right moves are made.

The city is likely to have plentiful high density housing for workers and students and Cairns Regional Council has a clearly-articulated vision of “tropical urbanism” with an emphasis on shaded outdoor rooms, an abundance of greenery and incorporating rainwater elements in public spaces.

The city of Cairns is facing a bright, vibrant and sustainable future, with our natural attractions drawing in people from across Australia and overseas. Young professional Corrinne Singleton lives in the Cairns CBD and works from home, taking in the view over the city every day. Picture: Brendan Radke

During a recent visit, Crystalbrook Hotels owner Ghassan Aboud called on investors to have the courage to back Cairns.

He has spent more than $600m on the trio of glamour hotels in the CBD and there are almost 800 rooms with occupancy above 80 per cent – but Mr Aboud said Crystalbrook guests wanted an engaging shopping experience and the city was lacking.

“When people arrive, they want to go shopping – when you go to the centre, there is nothing,” Mr Aboud said.

“This is the right time to develop what tourists are looking for – we need to believe,” he said.

Visiting Cairns this week, veteran developer Frank Gasparin backed Mr Aboud’s call to action.

Mr Gasparin has been spruiking a $2.5m ‘rodeo drive’ concept for the corner of Spence St and Abbott St, where his DFS Galleria building is located.

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“I want to make it a hub like Los Angeles, a place people come to photograph,” he said.

“I agree with Mr Aboud 100 per cent – we need investors to back the city.

“I am passionate about Cairns, and I believe it’s the most beautiful place in the world, and it has all the ingredients to be a world class destination,” Mr Gasparin said.

Tourism in Cairns is going from strength to strength but the hospitality sector has been hamstrung by lack of workers – and there’s nowhere for those on an average income to live that is close to work.

The $50m new CQUniversity set for the corner of Hartley St and Grafton St will double student numbers to 4,000 – and students will need affordable living options.

Kerryn Beverley and Shannon O'Rourke outside successful store Tommy Bahama, in the old Telegraph Office building on Spence St in the Cairns CBD. Picture: Peter Carruthers

The Convention Centre is in the final stages of a significant refurbishment and it will prove a magnet for events – bringing people into the city.

There is significant potential for high density housing at the southern end of the CBD, with veteran developer Frank Gasparin seeking an investor for his revived C3 Tower plan, comprising 796 apartments.

“Once the first tower is built, the others will follow,” he said.

The site of the failed $550m Nova city development on Spence St is an ideal spot for affordable apartments.

Division five Cr Amy Eden forecasted commercial properties in the CBD would be repurposed to living spaces.

“As Cairns grows to almost double its population, we will see densification in the city,” she said.

She said first and second floors would become apartment spaces.

Property investor Frank Gasparin has funded a concept video and design to transform Abbott St in the Cairns CBD into a beautiful metropolitan retail and hospitality area. This shot shows a new proposed water fountain at Anzac Park near the Reef Hotel Casino. Picture: Supplied

The Demographics Group co-founder and research director Simon Kuestenmacher said people were the key to a vibrant CBD.

“At any given hour, you want people visiting for events and pubs at night time and one thing that work really well is students, because they go to campus centrally, they study and go for drinks afterwards, and hopefully live there as well – students tend not to own cars,” Mr Kuestenmacher said.

“With borders opening, you’ll get more and more international temporary migrants coming to Cairns and at the start of their journey, they want to live as close to employment as they can, and that would automatically help the town centre.”

Council has done some visionary work on the fringes of the CBD with projects such as Munro Martin Park and Cairns Performing Arts Centre – but the historic heart of the city is ripe with potential.

Originally published as Future Cairns: CBD vision for 2050 will include high density housing for bigger population