Durack Civil starts work on Aura Kewarra Beach 10-lot estate

A boutique subdivision offering 10 larger sized blocks on one of the last developable areas of Kewarra Beach has kicked off following the sale of land by Alex Sekler to Durack Civil.

The lot plan for Aura Kewarra Beach. Picture: Supplied

A boutique subdivision offering 10 larger sized blocks on one of the last developable areas of Kewarra Beach has kicked off following final council approvals.

A proposed development on mangrove scrubland at Kewarra St that’s been on the books for almost 15 years at last got the go ahead by Cairns Regional Council in April after conditional approval of an operational works permit.

Originally planned as a six-lot subdivision by Trentham Holdings in 2013, the land was snapped up the following year by Russian billionaire Alex Sekler’s Liral Investments when the scope was expanded to a 10-lot development including a huge 700sq m house block complete with tennis court.

In November 2019 Liral was granted a permit to clear 62 trees from the site and land was actually cleared in late 2021 before the Trustee for Durack Civil Property Trust acquired the land in 2023 to be granted an operation works permit in April 2024.

A 10-lot subdivision at Kewarra Beach has kicked off after the granting of final approvals from Cairns Regional Council. Picture: Aura Kewarra Beach

Property records show the civil infrastructure firm paid $3.68m for the 9.52ha block.

Final approvals followed the challenging of a council requirement described as unreasonable by the developer to provide underground power lines to the 10 lots.

“An agreement was reached that it was not reasonable or relevant for council to require” laying of subterranean cables beyond the front of the property,” it was stated by planners in 2023.

In June, excavators moved to prepare the land for the building of 10 house sites now described by Belle Property as 30 Kewarra St.

Earlier plans for the Kewarra St property when the land was owned by Alex Sekler. Picture: Supplied

“An extraordinary opportunity to buy into the lifestyle dream of one of the last premium beachside developments on the Cairns northern beaches,” promotional material states.

“The prestigious Aura development comprises 10 blocks, ranging in highly sought after sizes from 886sq m to a unique 1ha block.

“This unparalleled location provides easy access to the beach via walking tracks, including a new beach path via Clifton Beach all the way to Palm Cove.”

In 2021 land clearing at Kewarra St was done by Liral Investments. Bushland was bulldozed to make way for the development. Picture: supplied.

Belle Property sales associate Liam Gage said Mr Sekler’s plans to build a sprawling mansion on the largest block died with the sale to Durack Civil and expressions of interest forms are now available for all 10 house sites marketed as Aura Kewarra Beach.

“There’s very little usage land, this is one of the last opportunities to build on the beachside of Kewarra Beach,” he said.

“We have not launched the sale yet but are taking expressions of interest and there has been strong interest.”

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Originally published as Durack Civil starts work on Aura Kewarra Beach 10-lot estate