Cairns Airport to host 183 apartments built by MiHaven for short-term accommodation
A new $60m short-term accommodation development in a strategic location for Cairns is set to ease the skilled worker shortage in Far North Queensland.
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A new $60m short-term accommodation development in a strategic location for Cairns is set to ease the skilled worker shortage in Far North Queensland.
Cairns construction firm and social enterprise MiHaven is set to construct 183 self-contained apartments at the Cairns Airport business precinct later this year.
Stages 1 and 2, delivering the 183 rooms, are expected to open in 2026.
The accommodation will be managed by MiHaven’s subsidiary Tropical Airport Accommodation Pty Ltd and the complex will also feature a cafe, conference and meeting facilities, swimming pools and a training centre.
The development, funded by MiHaven and a suite of private investors, will be built on land leased by Cairns Airport for 50 years.
Stage 3 of the development is expected to deliver 200 beds for student accommodation, with an estimated completion of 2027.
MiHaven co-founder James Mort said the complex was targeted at providing immediate and temporary accommodation for essential skilled workers, including those linked to airport operations, fly-in fly-out government staff as well as for the general skilled labour market.
Mr Mort said several aviation airport-based companies had committed to long-term accommodation agreements to secure units to accommodate aircraft engineers, pilots and other travelling contractors.
“This is not a build it and they will come project. If anything, we will probably say why did we not build more at the time, given the overwhelming response we have received to date, before we could even make this project public,” Mr Mort said.
“(Co-founder) Sarah and I are delighted to have had this opportunity to create a truly Cairns based project with all consultants and contractors being deployed locally from.
“This is Cairns through and through, directly investing over $60m into our economy.”
The development is the final piece of the Cairns Airport business park precinct, which started 20 years ago and provides a base for a range of commercial operators and government agencies.
Airport chief executive Richard Barker said project would enable various local industries to grow their operations, and strengthen the capabilities of key community providers, such as health services.
“A number of airport-based organisations need to fly in workers for vital aviation maintenance works and other services, but they are constrained by a lack of accommodation options.
“Providing short term accommodation at Cairns Airport will enable operators to house skilled workers for several nights, up to a number of months.”
Mr Mort said the short-term accommodation would allow stays anywhere between one night to “about three months,” expecting a nightly fee of about $230, which would change depending on the length of the lease.
An avid cycling enthusiast, Mr Mort said the design of the complex was inspired during a virtual bike ride through Puglia in Italy where he noted the rusted external beam architecture.
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Originally published as Cairns Airport to host 183 apartments built by MiHaven for short-term accommodation
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