Cairns subdivision surge as backyard developers hit Woree, Edmonton, Trinity Beach, Trinity Park, Mooroobool and Manunda

Backyard developers are putting the squeeze on the suburbs with a rush of proposals to carve up traditional blocks in seven low-density neighbourhoods.

BACKYARD developers are putting the squeeze on the suburbs with a rush of proposals to carve up large traditional blocks in low-density neighbourhoods.

Former Nova City sales director Zak Thaker and his wife Lenora are about to learn the fate of their latest backyard subdivision proposal in Woree.

Cairns Regional Council officers have recommended a rejection of their plan to turn an existing yard at 12 Alberta Dr into a new lot for future development.

The property has dual street frontage and could potentially be converted to two lots of about 400sq m apiece.

“Not a single lot below the minimum lot size of 600sq m currently exists within a 1km radius, with the smallest lot size being equal to 613sq m,” a council report states.

“This proposal will significantly differ from the established settlement pattern and character of the area, in a way that is inconsistent with the clear intent set by the planning scheme.”

It was a different story in May last year when the council approved the Thakers’ application to carve up the yard of an existing home at 6-8 Cavanagh St in Woree.

That plan pushed the current house to its own 447sq m lot, making room to build two sets of duplexes on the 1327sq  balance of the yard.

Former Nova City Cairns sales director Zak Thaker. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

In the past week alone, the council has received six separate development applications to either build duplexes or break existing suburban properties into two lots.

They included proposals for Suhle and Mitchum streets in Edmonton, Napier Cl in Trinity Park, Madang St in Trinity Beach, Macnamara St in Manunda and Koppen Tce in Mooroobool.

Plans to split a sprawling 2253sq m house block at 9-11 Hythe St into six separate lots, with the existing house to be demolished, are also progressing.

Approvals were granted in February last year but this week a new application was lodged to carry out operational works required to see the project through.

The council has stated its intention to increase suburban population density across the city, even going as far as offering financial incentives for backyard subdivisions in 2020.

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Originally published as Cairns subdivision surge as backyard developers hit Woree, Edmonton, Trinity Beach, Trinity Park, Mooroobool and Manunda