Fairfield and Co to welcome Geon’s massive housing project after council approval

Townsville will become the first regional city in Queensland to test for a housing project never used outside the south east corner. Here’s how it will work.

Fairfield & Co build to rent project in Idalia. Picture: Geon.

It’s full steam ahead for Townsville’s first build-to-rent apartment project, which will play a key role in easing the city’s housing crisis, after Townsville City Council gave the green light on Wednesday.

Worth an estimated $125m, Brisbane-based developer Geon’s mixed-use residential and retail complex at Fairfield and Co on Darcy Drive, Idalia, will involve the staged construction of two 12 storey towers with 294 apartments, hosting between 500 to 700 residents.

The project’s ground floors will feature retail and commercial spaces, with two above-ground parking levels providing 252 car parks, and will be constructed to a minimum finished floor height of 4.4m above sea level to achieve flood immunity.

Geon Executive Director Ben Griffin said the council’s approval cleared the path for the projects’ next phase, including detailed design, operational work and building approvals, with an anticipated construction start in 2026.

“This is a major step forward, not just for Geon but for the broader Townsville community,” Mr Griffin said.

“We’re delivering a long-term housing solution in direct response to the region’s urgent need for more rental accommodation – particularly for essential workers.”

Build to rent (BTR) is the process where developers and their financiers build multi-unit buildings and, instead of selling the units, retain them to rent to tenant households.

Geon chief executive Dan Moore expected the project to generate approximately 150 local construction jobs, with long-term employment opportunities created in on-site management and retail services, providing economic benefits during construction and for years to come.

“This is not only an exciting first for Townsville, but for Regional Queensland as the first BTR outside Southeast Queensland. It demonstrates significant confidence in the regional market and the long-term potential of cities like Townsville.”

Geon’s strategic planning partner, Infinitum Partners played a pivotal role in securing the council’s approval, with its director Kate Isles describing the project as a “thoughtful and much-needed evolution of Townsville’s housing market”.

“We’re proud to support GEON in delivering a project that will offer genuine housing choice, support attraction and retention of essential workers, and help build a more sustainable and inclusive precinct,” Ms Isles said.

Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said Geon’s project was a good thing for the city.

“ (BTR) is a new concept for us but I think the way that the city is headed, it probably won’t be the last one that we see coming to council.

“I think that build to rent, particularly for younger people, particularly in defence and tertiary education, is a step in the right direction for the city,” Ms Greaney said.

During Wednesday’s ordinary meeting of Townsville City Council, councillors had expressed concerns about the number of carparks available for the apartments, and highlighted the need for the state government to take control of Lakeside Drive and deliver a signalised intersection.

Originally published as Fairfield and Co to welcome Geon’s massive housing project after council approval