Cairns real estate: Govt won’t buy $8m Taylor Point on northern beaches

The state government won’t buy a landmark northern beaches parcel of land, the owner evidently has no appetite to develop it and it is languishing - so what will the future hold for this beloved bushland? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

THE state government has ruled out buying the northern beaches headland Taylor Point but State MP for Barron River Craig Crawford has vowed to fight for a way to fund an $8m public buyback of the headland.

He said the 18.8-hectare headland between Trinity Beach and Kewarra Beach, owned by developer Robert Prettejohn, deserved to be public land.

“Residents want this pristine headland to be forever protected for public amenity,’’ he said.

“I will explore whatever avenues we can to get this into public hands.

“I respect the priorities of the department - but I haven’t given up the fight.’’

Taylor Point at Trinity Beach - the 18.81ha parcel of land has approval for 18 lots but is being marketed in its entirety by Jay Beattie of Colliers International. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Crawford asked the Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon to consider buying the land, which has approval for a 19-lot subdivision valid to 2025.

The Cairns Post asked Ms Scanlon’s office if it would buy Taylor Point and received a statement handballing the land back to Cairns Regional Council.

“Given Taylor Point’s significant local community values such as its scenic amenity, informal recreation and access to the adjacent beaches, it may be more appropriate to explore its potential as an environmental reserve under the management of the Cairns Regional Council,” the statement said.

It said Taylor Point was isolated from the nearby conservation reserves such as Earl Hill and Smithfield Conservation Parks and in a highly fragmented and urbanised landscape.

“Given these circumstances it is not a current priority for acquisition.”

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) director Lucy Graham said the group was in talks with Mr Crawford.

Developer Robert Prettejohn fought a long battle to gain approval to develop Taylor Point - but put the land on the market two years ago. Picture: supplied.

Two years ago, Mr Prettejohn applied for an extension to the currency period for the development application on the basis that alternative proposals for the site were being investigated.

“Detailed discussions are currently in hand with the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning in relation to establishing eco-lodge cabins onsite,” the document stated.

“The extension to currency periods will ensure that the applicant does not rush into works associated with the current approvals and has sufficient time to make a well informed decision on the alternative proposal.”

Various plans for between 16 and 19 lots have been submitted over a decade.

Taylor Point is a headland separating Trinity Beach and Kewarra Beach. Picture: Supplied.

At one stage, buildings that were on the land since the 1940s were removed to make way for an intended multi-unit resort development, but concrete slabs and roadways are still there.

Mr Prettejohn’s development approval encompasses an average residential lot size of 7,861sq m with 3.08ha as park for coastal protection – but he seems to have lost his appetite for the project.

Taylor Point went on the market two years ago and is listed with Colliers International.

The State Government bought the 54ha Earl Hill in 2018 for $4m.

Taylor Point was donated by the late Josephine Blessas, who died in 1969, to the Anglican Church.

“A bequest of land (some 40 acres) and buildings at Trinity Beach has been received from Mrs Blessas for youth work, and after a few working bees and camps, it is already providing a source of pleasure to Cairns Anglicans,” the Cairns Post reported at the time.

But the Anglican Church sold the land to Mr Prettejohn in 1996 for a reported $3.2m.

Originally published as Cairns real estate: Govt won’t buy $8m Taylor Point on northern beaches